Vrchotovy Janovice offers several clearly distinct cultural and park experiences: guided tours of the castle, a castle park, exhibitions, an educational trail and the Church of St Martin. When planning your visit, it is worth distinguishing the park’s seasonal opening hours from the castle tour hours. The subjects range from the original stone castle of the Lords of Janovice to historic objects, bells and the history of the region. This makes it easy to tailor your visit to your interests in architectural history, exhibitions or a themed trail.
The castle and seasonal park opening hours
The castle originated as an original stone castle belonging to the Lords of Janovice and is set in a landscaped park. Public guided tours of the castle are offered during opening hours; advance booking is not required. If you plan to take a tour, note that it is tied to the castle’s opening hours and check the current times before your visit. These are separate from the park opening hours listed below.
The castle park covers 16.5 hectares and is open daily. From April to October, it is open from 08:00 to 19:00; from November to March, from 08:00 to 16:30. The daily opening window also changes between these periods: from April to October, the park closes later than it does from November to March. If you would like to visit both the castle and park, keep these different opening times in mind when planning.
An educational trail through history and nature
Another way to explore the history of the area is the Po stopách Sidonie NádhernĂ© educational trail. It connects Vrchotovy Janovice with nearby Olbramovice, has seven stops and is approximately 8.3 kilometres long. The information panels cover the family of the last noble owner of the castle, Baroness Sidonie Nádherná z BorutĂna (1885–1950), her influential friends from European cultural life, the history of the region and natural attractions. The themed trail thus goes beyond the history of the castle, bringing together cultural and natural history topics.
Exhibitions with different focuses
The exhibition “Society in 19th-Century Bohemia and Rilke, Kraus and Vrchotovy Janovice” features hundreds of original objects, including paintings, clothing, furniture and toys. Historical artefacts are presented in a period interior. The exhibition links the subject of 19th-century Bohemian society with Rilke, Kraus and Vrchotovy Janovice.
The “Czech Bellmaking” exhibition is housed in the authentic setting of a former water fortress. It displays a substantial part of the National Museum’s historic bell collection, which comprises more than 150 pieces. The two exhibitions therefore have distinctly different focuses: one highlights society and historical artefacts from the 19th century, while the other centres on the bell collection.
The Church of St Martin
The Church of St Martin adds a Romanesque religious building to the cultural highlights. It dates from the late 12th century. Five red-marble tombstones are set into the walls on both sides of the presbytery. The church’s date places it within the history of medieval architecture, while the number, material and arrangement of the tombstones offer a distinct point of interest inside. The church therefore provides a different historical perspective from the exhibitions on 19th-century society and the bell collection.
Discover more destinations: Hvězdonice, Čtyřkoly, Neustupov, Litichovice, Strojetice, Pysely, Bucina, Rabyne.
See the broader travel overview: Okres Benešov.
