John's Castle (basic tour)

Zámek Lednice → John's Castle (basic tour)

John's Castle (basic tour)

The castle was built next to a game reserve in a place surrounded from three sides by the river Dyje. It served as a hunting lodge – a gathering place before the hunt and the place of celebrations at the end of the hunting season. Rich banquets were held here after the hunts during which the king of the hunt was announced. The object also served as home to the local harbinger. The construction work started in 1801 by Alois I. Josef, the Prince of Liechtenstein according to project by Joseph Hardtmuth. However, the prince died in 1805 and the project had to be completed by his three-year younger brother – Jan I. Josef the Prince of Liechtenstein.

Jonh´s Castle was originally supposed to be much grander, but the project was reduced at the request of the prince. The building consists of four corner towers – each one with a different ground plan. The towers are connected from three sides by perimeter walls with first floor ramparts located on the outer sides. The fourth side of the courtyard is closed by a mansion.

On the first floor of the mansion there is the Knights Hall where the feasts and hunting banquets took place. Lounges are located in the towers. Only the South tower has a second floor with a balcony from which it is possible to cross a gallery to the second floor of the West tower. The third floor comprises of a lookout point on the South tower.

The unstable floodplain forest subsoil had to be reinforced by wooden beams. Only then could the work begin. Stones for the construction were brought from Pálava and the nearby Great Moravian settlement of Pohansko. In his effort to build as realistic imitation of a real castle as possible, the architect paid great attention to every detail, such as the right-handed turning staircase, privys and loopholes.

Basic information

duration 25 minutes
max. 25 people

Opening hours

Period	Days	Hours
1. 4.–30. 4.	Sat–Sun	9.00–16.00
10. 4.	Fri	9.00–16.00
13. 4.	Mon	9.00–16.00
1. 5.–30. 6.	Tue–Sun	9.00–17.00
1. 7.–31. 8.	Mon–Sun	9.00–16.00
1. 9.–30. 9.	Tue–Sun	9.00–16.00
28. 9.	Mon	9.00–16.00
1. 10.–31. 10.	Sat–Sun	9.00–16.00
28. 10.	Wed	9.00–16.00

Admission

Guide in the Czech language

Adults 80 Kč
Children up to 6 years Free
Children 6–18 years 60 Kč
Seniors over 65 years 60 Kč
Family admission (max. 2 adults and 3 children till 15 years) 210 Kč
ISIC, EYCA card holders 60 Kč
ZTP card holders up to 18 years, ZTP/P card holders and ZTP/P guides Free
ICOMOS members, NPÚ mand National museum employees, accredited journalists Free
Groups of ZTP/P, ZTP and preschool children 20 Kč

Guide in a foreign language

Full 120 CZK
Children 0-6 years free
Youth 6-18 years 90 CZK
Family (2 full + 1-3 kids up to 15 years) 320 CZK
Seniors 65+ 90 CZK
ISIC or EYCA Cards 90 CZK
ZTP, ZTP/P Cards free
ZTP/P Guide free
ICOMOS Card, National Museum and Ministry of Culture of the Czech Republic Cards free
Journalist with press accreditation free
Free single or family NPÚ tickets free
Group ICOMOS, ZTP, ZTP/P, NM and MK with reservation 20 CZK/p

reservation needed for groups only