Ploskovice chateau and its English park – an easy 2 km stroll

• The ornate Ploskovice chateau, located in the České středohoří foothills, 7 km from Litoměřice and the Labe river, was the favored Bohemian home of a number of prominent nobles in the 18th and 19th centuries. The chateau was constructed on the site of an older fortress, but owes its current form to the reconstruction commissioned by Grand Duchess Anna Maria Francesca of the Palatinate, in the early 18th century. The Duchess wanted to create a ‘mini Versailles’ and it became her principal residence in Bohemia after refusing to move to Italy following her marriage to Gian Gastone, the last Medici Grand Duke of Tuscany.
• The following century, Ploskovice became the private home of an Emperor, Ferdinand V of Habsburg. In addition to being the ruler of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, Ferdinand was the last ever crowned king of Bohemia. He abdicated in 1848 in favor of his nephew Franz Joseph I, who became the longest ruling Emperor in history, until his death in 1916.
• The remarkable chateau interior is usually open for tours from April to October (including the unique 18th century water grotto – an artificial water cave – created by Anna Maria Francesca) while the attractive gardens and small English park surrounding the chateau are open year round. There is also a short nature trail in the park, created by the local school (information boards in Czech only) as well as a popular café in the chateau gardens. A full exploration of the park area and chateau grounds is no longer than 2 km, is completely flat and suitable for strollers.

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Directions

• Ploskovice can quickly be reached by bus from Litoměřice. There is also a small parking area in front of the chateau
• The entrance to the chateau and park area is through an arched entrance leading off the main square
• The walk around the park area is obvious as it is a broadly rectangular space, walled on all sides
• The café is located in the building on the right side of the front garden area