Nižbor Château and the Celtic oppidum Stradonice

Discover the secrets of the Celts at the Nižbor Château! The Celtic Culture Information Centre awaits you, where you can learn about the life of our ancient ancestors. Nearby lies the Stradonické oppidum, one of the most important Celtic settlements.

The château, which has become a permanent reminder of the Celtic past of Bohemia, hides the remains of a Gothic castle. Its foundations were laid above the Berounka River by Přemysl Otakar II around the middle of the 13th century. Přemysl’s son and successor to the Czech throne, King Wenceslas II, also fell in love with the place; he often stayed here and also contributed to the development of the castle and its surroundings. During the reign of Charles IV, the Nižbor residence was among 14 inalienable royal castles. At the beginning of the 16th century, the castle underwent a significant Renaissance reconstruction, the result of which was to be a unique example of contemporary castle architecture. The castle acquired its current form under the administration of the Wallenstein family in 1724.

• Interesting fact: The work on the Baroque appearance of the existing premises and the newly built château chapel was directed by the leading architect František Maxmilián Kaňka, who also participated in significant Baroque modifications to the Konopiště Château and rebuilt the Loučeň Château for the Wallensteins.

The château is now surrounded by the mysterious atmosphere of the Celts. Its ancient glory is commemorated by the Celtic exhibition, which occupies a corridor and three rooms. Within the framework of four thematic units, you will learn whether the Celts were the heroes we believe them to be. You will be surrounded by typical scenes of their everyday life and ingenious inventions. The exhibition also includes a corner stylized as a Celtic dwelling. Here you can try out Celtic crafts and contemporary clothing for yourself. Thanks to modern methods of archaeological research, the spectrum of materials and objects obtained here is wide. You will see an exclusive collection here that refers not only to the Central Bohemian life of the Celts, but also to their prehistoric predecessors.

• Tip for you: You can follow the footsteps of your ancient ancestors in the château’s Celtic Culture Information Centre from May to October. Educational programmes held during the school year must be booked in advance, but their engaging content can excite young and old visitors. 

What’s next?

Within sight of the château, on the hill of Hradiště u Stradonic, there is also a significant Celtic oppidum built around 120 BC on an area of ​​ninety hectares. The former important trade and production centre of its time was protected by four gates, fenced courtyards, and the development included a number of residential and farm buildings. Now the site is considered the most famous Czech prehistoric site, especially thanks to numerous finds. The place was also made famous by the gold rush that broke out in 1877. Stradonice hid a treasure of about 200 gold coins. The location of the oppidum is now commemorated by a cross erected on the top of the hill. It is definitely worth combining a visit to this place with the beauties of the Bohemian Karst, which include the nearby rock Hudlická skála or with a visit to the Rückl glassworks, which is located in the château grounds, on the opposite bank of the Berounka River.