Deep in the rolling green of Vysočina in the Czech Highlands, where forests stretch endlessly and meadows glint in the golden sunlight, stands a castle with nearly eight centuries of stories embedded in its grand walls. Chateau Herálec is no ordinary hotel: it’s a place of inspiration and beauty, where history has been carefully restored, not as a museum relic but as a living, breathing sanctuary of contemporary comfort.
Once a fortress, later a Renaissance residence and then a romantic Gothic revival, the chateau has known the sweep of dynasties, fires, and decline. For decades, it lay silent, its grandeur dimmed, until the Kasper family brought it back to life. Their meticulous restoration, completed in 2011, returned dignity to its towers and courtyards while imbuing them with the warmth of a family home. Owner Alexandra Kasperová’s touch is everywhere—from the choice of preserved frescoes to the selection of art that adorns the rooms—each detail ensuring the castle feels both noble and inviting.
Today, Chateau Herálec is celebrated as one of Europe’s most romantic retreats. The 19 expansive suites and rooms each boast a unique aesthetic, inspired by either the castle’s former owners or great Czech painters. The design draws upon an unusual concept: collaboration with the Vysočina Regional Gallery has allowed reproductions of old masterworks to become immersive, large-scale wall installations, bringing artistry into every corner.
This attention to curating breathtaking spaces continues outside, where an 18th-century English park unfurls against a region rich with UNESCO heritage and wild, untouched nature. Guests might wander the lawns, cycle through the valleys, or rise in a hot-air balloon over the forests. The “Chronicles of Experience” curated by the chateau ensures that leisure here is not passive but full of fun and discovery—whether it’s horseback riding through the meadows, swimming in a quarry, or tasting local craft beer at nearby Bernard Brewery.
At the heart of the chateau is its Spa by L’Occitane, the first of its kind in the Czech Republic. Beneath vaulted arches, guests can float in the candlelit pool, step into herbal and steam saunas, or retreat to the Silencarium, a resting room where time and stress melt away. Treatments with L’Occitane’s Provençal botanicals recall the brand’s origins in Couvent des Minimes in Provence, yet here they are layered with the atmosphere of a centuries-old castle. It is perhaps this rare marriage of French savoir-faire and Czech history that recently earned Chateau Herálec the title of Best Luxury Spa Experience in the Czech Republic at the 2025 Haute Grandeur Global Excellence Awards.
Dining, too, is an embrace of both tradition and seasonality at Chateau Herálec. Restaurant Honoria occupies the oldest part of the castle, its vaulted rooms framing dishes rooted in classic Czech recipes yet lifted by a farm-to-table ethos. Much of the produce comes directly from local farms, ensuring that every plate tells the story of the land around it. For oenophiles, the castle’s Bordeaux collection is a hidden jewel—one of the largest of its kind in the country, stored beneath the chateau’s stone arches in the wine cellar of Bishop John.
Chateau Herálec has become more than a unique escape; it is a destination of global recognition. Alongside its Haute Grandeur accolades, it has also been honoured by Luxury Lifestyle Awards and praised by international publications such as CNN Travel and National Geographic Traveller.
To stay at Chateau Herálec is to step into history without ever feeling bound by it. The castle’s past is present in every detail, yet what defines the experience is the exceptional hospitality—shaped by care, attentiveness and authenticity. Guests often arrive as visitors to a castle and leave with the impression of having been welcomed into a home, and that is what makes Chateau Herálec truly special— the ability to make luxury feel personal.
To find out more about Chateau Herálec and book, visit the links below:
Chateau Herálec
Herálec 1
58255 Herálec
Czech Republic
Web: chateauheralec.cz
Tel: +420 569 669 111
Email: reception@chateauheralec.com
Instagram: @chateau_heralec