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GROUP ESCORTED TOURS

GREAT HOUSES OF BOHEMIA

A Journey Through Historic Estates, Stunning Gardens, and Architectural Marvels from Medieval to Art Deco
GROUP ESCORTED TOUR

ABOUT THE TOUR

Travel with Guest Lecturer Lucy Abel Smith and Tour Leader Harriet Landseer on a tour of the country houses of Bohemia which rival those in the UK, both numerically and in the diversity of architecture, interiors and gardens. Yet many are little known. Under communism a few were open to the public but their history was rarely mentioned. Czechoslovakia was one of the first countries to restitute property after 1989.

During this unusual tour we will enjoy private visits to some of those estates which have been returned to the original families, now coming into the ownership of a new generation. We are fortunate that private visits play a large part in this itinerary. Important houses and gardens still retained by the state will also be seen as well as those belonging to the Metternich family.

From royal medieval castles and churches to the fruits of the Enlightenment and industrialization which are mirrored in extraordinary original interiors such as we will find at Nove Mesto nad Metuji where medieval, Baroque and Art Deco are found in a glorious mix. Originality and influence on other parts of Central Europe are the keynote of Bohemian architecture.

For most of our daily journeys to all points of the compass outside Prague we will travel through the beautiful countryside of the Czech Republic.

Many of the aristocratic owners of these country seats had palaces in Prague, hence the decision to stay in central Prague for the duration of the tour. This gives the opportunity for visits and the chance to wander at leisure through one of the most beautiful capital cities in Europe.

LED BY

TOUR LEADERS

Lucy Abel Smith l Tour Leader | The Ultimate Travel Company

Lucy Abel Smith

Lucy is an art historian who specialises in Central Europe and the Balkans. After many years working as a tour organiser and lecturer, she set up her independent travel company, Reality and Beyond Ltd to concentrate on this most fascinating part of the world. She first visited Prague in the early 1970s and wrote a Walking Tour of Prague published by John Murray in 1991. She lives in Gloucestershire and founded the successful contemporary sculpture show Fresh Air in 1992. She has restored a house in Richiș, Transylvania where she launched the Transylvanian Book Festival in 2013. She wrote the Blue Guide to the Greater Tarnava Valley in 2016 which is now in its second edition. Any spare time is spent researching the patronage of the 17th Century Duke and Duchess of Beaufort. She is a patron of the Gloucestershire Gardens and Landscape Trust.

Harriet Landseer

Harriet lives between Ireland and Prague (with occasional stints in Andalucia) and has worked for Specialtours since 1996, with a focus Central Europe as her main area of expertise. Fluent in Czech, she is also at ease in German, French and Spanish. She studied History of Art at Yale University and has worked with Lucy for almost 30 years, also at Reality and Beyond Ltd.
THE PRICE BREAKDOWN

7 days from £4,185 per person

TOUR DATE: 08 OCTOBER – 14 OCTOBER 2025

SINGLE SUPPLEMENT: £750

Price Includes

  • Accommodation throughout as shown in the itinerary
  • Breakfast daily; 7 lunches; 3 dinners
  • Group transfers and transportation as per the itinerary
  • All entrance fees, visits, excursions
  • Gratuities in restaurants for included meals; gratuities to guides/s; gratuities to driver/s; porterage
  • The services of your tour leader and guest lecturer throughout

Price Excludes

  • International flights
  • Travel insurance
  • Opera / concert tickets
  • Meals ‘under own arrangements’
  • Items of personal expenditure (e.g. telephone calls / laundry etc.)
  • Government levies or taxes introduced after costing and publication of this programme on 19/02/25
Make an EnquiryDOWNLOAD BROCHURE
Bohemian Country Houses & Castles Tour

Day-by-Day Overview

6 nights at Grand Hotel Bohemia

8th October: Arrival in Prague & Old Town Exploration
Arrive in Prague and transfer to the Grand Hotel Bohemia. After lunch at the hotel, take an introductory walk through the Old Town, including a private tour of the restored interiors of the Obecni Dum. Enjoy a welcome reception with drinks, followed by dinner at the Obecni Dum’s French restaurant.

9th October: Karlstejn Castle & Veltrusy
After breakfast, travel by coach to Karlstejn Castle to see Master Theodoric’s wood panel paintings in the Chapel of the Holy Rood. Lunch at a local restaurant before visiting Veltrusy Castle and its park. Return to Prague. Dinner under own arrangements. Optional evening concert at the Rudolfinum (subject to schedule, additional cost).

10th October: Orlik, Drahenice & Blatna
Breakfast at the hotel before departing for a visit to the Schwarzenberg Castle at Orlik. Lunch at Drahenice Chateau, followed by a visit to Blatna Castle. Return to Prague for dinner at a local restaurant.

11th October: Kynzvart Castle & Krasny Dvur
After breakfast, travel to Kynzvart Castle, the grand Metternich estate. Continue to the Baroque mansion of Krasny Dvur, exploring its gardens. Lunch at a local restaurant before returning to Prague. Dinner under own arrangements.

12th October: Kutna Hora, Kacina & Trebesice
Following breakfast, visit the historic town of Kutna Hora to see St. Barbara’s Gothic Church. Continue to Kacina Chateau before enjoying lunch and a tour at Trebesice Chateau. Return to Prague for some free time. Dinner under own arrangements.

13th October: Nove Mesto nad Metuji, Castolovice & Kostelec
Breakfast at the hotel before heading to Nove Mesto nad Metuji, known for its blend of medieval, Baroque, and Art Deco architecture. Enjoy a private lunch at Castolovice Castle, followed by a visit to Kostelec and Cernymi Lesy Castle, including a tea break. Return to Prague for dinner at a local restaurant.

14th October: Nelahozeves & Departure
After breakfast, check out and travel to Nelahozeves. Visit the newly-opened Dvorak birthplace and tour Nelahozeves Castle. Enjoy a farewell lunch at a nearby restaurant before transferring to the airport for the return flight to London.

CLIENT TESTIMONIALS
“BEAUTIFULLY ORGANISED AND PERFECT RECOMMENDATIONS. ”
“What a fantastic trip organised by Ultimate. They listened to what we wanted and set up perfect destinations for us. Everyone was friendly and professional from the office in London through to on-the-ground support. The organisation of pick-ups, connecting flights and so on, went like clockwork.”
CLIENT TESTIMONIALS
“MY FIRST PORT OF CALL FROM NOW ON. ”
“Efficient, friendly and helpful throughout. made everything a million times easier, Ultimate Travel Company will by my first port of call from now on.”
CLIENT TESTIMONIALS
“FANTASTIC!”
“Sophie went above and beyond to ensure we had a fantastic honeymoon. We had 0 stress relating to planning and everything was taken care of from the moment we stepped off the plane. Sophie anticipated what we wanted when we didn’t even know ourselves. We will certainly be booking with Ultimate again.”
CLIENT TESTIMONIALS
“PROBLEM FREE EXCELLENCE.”
“Efficiently organised, everything went like clockwork. This is all the more remarkable since the tour involved considerable complexity.”
CLIENT TESTIMONIALS
“AN EFFICIENT AND RELIABLE COMPANY.”
“We have continued to ask Ultimate Travel to make our distant overseas travel arrangements for many years and they have always given us great service.”
Blatna Castle | Luxury Czech Republic Holidays | The Ultimate Travel Company
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