The English-style landscape park of Žleby covers about 24 hectares and makes use of the steep castle slope and the canyon-like meander of the Doubrava. Here, a landscaped park and a striking river formation meet. Those planning a trip to Žleby will find several castle tours, wildlife viewing and historic buildings alongside this natural setting. The attractions offer a range of focuses, from interiors and castle history to wildlife and a hiking route.

Žleby Castle: tours with different focuses

The “Kouzlo romantického zámku” tour includes reception rooms, romantic interiors and an armoury with a distinctive collection of weapons and armour. The tour also includes the Renaissance arcaded courtyard with its galleries, as well as the historic castle kitchen and rooms used for operations and food preparation. The focus here is on the castle’s reception rooms and furnishings.

“Život na zámku” turns its attention to life in the rooms of the Auersperg family: the tour shows their private salons, bedrooms and studies. It also includes rooms used by the staff, historic hygiene and the castle chapel of Zvěstování Panny Marie. The focus is therefore on private and everyday life in the castle.

The “Zámek z hradu zrozený” tour includes the Great Tower, with access to a viewing walkway, romantic chambers, cellars and the lower level of the medieval castle. The tours differ in more than just their names: they lead to different areas and cover different aspects of the castle. Their content may change; access as part of “Zámek z hradu zrozený” may also change. Check the current programme before your trip.

Churches, chapels and other monuments

The Church of Narození Panny Marie in Žleby is a Renaissance building dating from 1540, which was altered in the 19th century. Its complex includes the two-storey Neo-Renaissance Auersperg burial chapel from 1822, centrally located in front of the west façade. The church and the separate burial chapel are protected monuments. Together, the construction date, later alterations and burial chapel offer insight into different periods of architectural history.

The bell tower of Žleby stands on a terrace above the right bank of the Doubrava. Its upper storey is clad in boards. West of Žleby, in the direction of Markovice, lies the Kaple Nejsvětější Trojice. The small, plastered brick chapel has a rectangular floor plan. The year 1867 is marked on the chapel; the restoration year, 1976, is engraved. The front niche contains a wall painting of the Holy Trinity. The chapel and the Marian column are also cultural monuments of Žleby.

White deer, birds of prey and a hiking route

Obora Žleby is open to the public. During feeding, visitors can watch a tame herd of white deer from a distance of 15 metres. Flight demonstrations featuring birds of prey and owls are also offered; participation depends on the programme schedule. During guided tours, visitors can get closer to the animals. This makes the wildlife attraction quite different from the tours focused on castle rooms and architectural history.

For a hike, a red-marked trail leads from Žleby via Ronov nad Doubravou, Žlebské Chvalovice, Krkanka and Rudov to the castle ruins of Lichnice. The route connects several named places with a destination at a castle ruin. Markings and trail conditions may change; check both before setting out. This lets you choose a focus for your stay: castle history, an encounter with animals or a hike.

Discover more destinations: Šebestěnice, Horky, Červené Janovice, Uhlírské Janovice, Horka I, Chabeřice, Vavřinec, Zruc Nad Sázavou

For the higher-level travel overview: Okres Kutná Hora.