Kačina Castle offers several distinct ways to experience a stay in Svatý Mikuláš: the history of the Chotek family, theatre technology, exhibitions and a landscape park. If you are looking for a holiday rental, you can choose your focus based on whether you are more interested in the castle rooms, the museum or Kačina’s natural surroundings. Guided tours take you through different parts of the castle; the orienteering course adds a different focus to the grounds.

Guided tours and exhibitions in the castle

The “13 Chotkovských komnat” (“13 Chotek Rooms”) tour presents the history and way of life of the Chotek family. It takes you through 13 Empire-style rooms, focusing on the people and everyday life behind the castle’s history. “Za oponu zámeckého divadla” (“Behind the Curtain of the Castle Theatre”) offers a different perspective: this tour showcases one of Europe’s oldest surviving fly towers. The fly tower is part of the stage machinery; scenery is moved there above the stage. The seasonal availability of tours may vary.

The “Zámecký skleník, bylinková zahrada a konírna” (“Castle Greenhouse, Herb Garden and Stables”) tour focuses on several areas rather than the castle rooms: the guided tour includes the orangery, the herb and vegetable garden, the park and the stables. This distinguishes it from the tours about the Chotek family and the castle theatre, each of which focuses on a specific part of the castle’s history.

The “Království včel” (“Kingdom of Bees”) exhibition features a glazed, working beehive where visitors can observe the bees. So the focus is not solely on a display about bees, but also on observing them in the hive. Check current museum access information before your visit. The “Příběh dřeva” (“Story of Wood”) exhibition is on the first floor of the castle; its presentation and opening arrangements may change.

The Museum of Czech Rural Life is housed at Kačina Castle at the address Svatý Mikuláš 51. When planning your visit, it is helpful to distinguish between the museum as an institution, its individual exhibitions and the tours, which cover different themes. Seasonal access to the museum may vary.

Parkland and natural features

Kačina Castle Park is open year-round, and admission is free. Official access conditions may change; check the latest information before you travel. The castle garden was laid out in the style of an English natural landscape park. So, alongside the castle rooms, Kačina offers a designed parkland that can be considered a focus in its own right, separate from the exhibitions and tours.

The area’s natural features are also specifically identified: Kačina Park is part of the Kačina Natural Monument, and Kačina is designated as a Site of Community Importance within the Natura 2000 network. Many rare insect species live at Kačina; for some, Kačina is the only confirmed site in Bohemia. Thus, alongside the garden, the area’s distinctive natural environment is also a focus. Information about protected areas and rare species describes aspects of Kačina that are different from the guided tours of the castle rooms.

An activity with several ways to get around

The orienteering course in the area of the NZM Kačina permanent control points has ten checkpoints. You can complete it running, on foot or by bicycle. This makes it different from the guided castle tours: here, you can choose between three ways to get around, while the theme and the castle areas visited determine the character of each tour. Course conditions may change.

When choosing what to do in Svatý Mikuláš, you can first decide which experience interests you most: family history in the Empire-style rooms, stage technology, a guided tour of the gardens and castle areas, exhibitions, or nature and outdoor activities. These details help you compare different options without setting a prescribed order for your visit.

Discover more destinations: Zbizuby, Vlkaneč, Kutná Hora, Košice U Nepoměřic, Čáslav, Rohozec, Horky, Petrovice II

See the overview of the wider area: Kutná Hora District.