Kačina Castle Library

A library that has been on my bucket list for some time now is the Kačina Castle Library in the Czech Republic.

There are plenty of incredible libraries to visit in Prague, but Kačina’s looks like something plucked from the pages of a fairytale.

This majestic circular book trove was built for the Chotek Family and contains over 40,000 rare books on the shelves.

I was in awe of this place and highly recommend visiting if you’re a reading lover.

Kačina is just a short drive or bus ride away from Kutna Hora and so it makes a great day trip when visiting Prague.

Here is how to visit the stunning Kačina Castle Library with everything you need to know!

Kačina Castle Library

Kačina Castle history

Kačina Château is one of the most significant examples of the Empire Style architecture found in the Czech Republic.

It was built as a mansion from 1806 – 1824 for the Chotek family as a summer residence.

Back then, Count Jan Rudolf Chotek was a supreme burgrave of the Kingdom of Bohemia.

It was designed by the Saxon royal architect Christian Franz Schuricht of Dresden.

The castle is divided into three parts. The central building is the largest and was used for the family’s living quarters.

There are also two wings on either side. One contains a large library and the other an unfinished chapel and Baroque theatre.

Kačina Castle Library was built at the same time as the Baroque Theatre and was completed in 1824.

Built in a Classicist Style, the central lofty cupola was inspired by temples of Ancient Rome.

Twelve faux marble columns suspend an upper mezzanine floor containing even more books.

There are over 40,000 historic books in the library dating back to the 15th – 19th centuries, and each one is embossed with the Chotek coat of arms.

Most of the collection is written in German, but there are others in Spanish, Italian and the old Czech language.

The oldest book in the collection is a Russian book of psalms from 1480.

The most precious volumes, however, are a complete set of the French encyclopaedia Description de l’Égypte from 1809-1818.

This contains a complete record of everything Napoleon Bonaparte witnessed in Egypt during the Napoleonic Wars.

Few libraries in the world own a complete set of the first 23 volumes published. So, it’s a special thing to see.

The Empress on Netflix

Another reason why I wanted to visit Kačina Castle Library is that it recently featured in series 2 of The Empress on Netflix (Die Kaiserin).

The latest series was predominantly filmed in the Czech Republic, including the city centre of Prague.

This library featured many times in the show during scenes featuring Napoleon and Archduke Maximilian.

Of course, after finding out that Napoleon’s rare published works were in this library, it made sense why the production chose it.

I’m obsessed with that series, and it felt surreal to see this circular library with my own eyes!

How to visit Kačina Castle Library

Kačina Castle Library is inside Kačina Château which is located around 4/5 kilometres from Kutna Hora hl.n station in the Czech Republic.

If you’re visiting Prague, you can take a direct train to Kutna Hora for around an hour and then switch to a local bus/taxi service heading to Kačina.

Booking trains in the Czech Republic is easy if you use the České dráhy website. It has an English option and takes a few moments.

Make sure to check bus schedules before you go, as services to Kačina run every couple of hours. You can pay with contactless payments onboard.

If you’re driving, travelling there will be much easier, and there is a large car park just outside.

Once you arrive at Kačina, you can walk through the gardens to the main castle entrance.

Inside, you can buy a ticket for a Kačina Library tour. Or, you can book beforehand online.

How much are library tours?

You can only visit Kačina Castle Library on a guided tour, and these take place every even number of the day (10 am / 12 pm / 2 pm / 4 pm).

Tours don’t always take place daily, so make sure to check the calendar for tour dates before you visit.

The Chotkov library tours cost;

Adults: 180 CZK (£6/$8)
Children: 100 CZK (£3.30/$4.50
Students/Elderly: 150 CZK (£5/$6.70)

I thought that this was a bargain to see such an incredible library, plus the guided tours last around an hour.

You can either book tours online or buy a ticket at the castle on the day.

As places are limited to 30 people per tour, I recommend booking online to avoid disappointment.

All guided tours are conducted in the Czech language, but they give foreign visitors a booklet with a translated transcript if needed.

Entering Kačina Château

I had seen photos of Kačina Château online, but nothing prepares you for seeing this incredible building in person.

As I hopped off the bus and crossed the elaborate grounds, I was enchanted by this castle.

The estate was so grand, it felt like I had entered an episode of Bridgerton.

Built in a Classicist style, the gleaming tympanum facade with towering columns makes a profound impression.

I arrived a little early, so I had some fun taking photos outside before making my way in for my tour.

You can only explore the staterooms with a guided tour, but there is a gallery you can enter near the ticket desk for free.

This entry hall was nothing short of breathtaking. The Chotek family built this residence to impress, and they definitely succeeded in that.

This gallery also allows you to take a peek inside some of the rooms, such as the family dining room and long gallery.

If you have time, I recommend booking a Castle Tour where you can visit thirteen lavish chambers.

Chotek Family dining Rookm — *Chotek Family Dining Room*

Inside Chotek Library

Once our group had all gathered in the reception hall, it was time to start our library tour. I’m not going to lie, I was brimming with anticipation.

We followed our guide to the entrance of the Chotek Library, and they unlocked the doors to what I can only describe as a literary paradise.

As soon as we stepped inside, we were surrounded by thousands of old books on the shelves with book ladders.

I was also hit with the scent of parchment, ink and leather. It’s a smell I wish I could bottle up and take home, as nothing beats it.

The Circular Hall

The most impressive part of Kačina Castle Library is the central cupola hall.

Built in a Classicist style, twelve immense faux marble columns suspend the upper floor.

The spherical floor has a bold monochrome pattern, and if you look up, the lofty domed ceiling has a skylight that provides a natural glow.

All of the books on the shelves are protected by honeycomb grates. Unfortunately, you can’t handle or read any of them.

However, you can easily see many of the book spines, and some were even painted in gold!

The Map Room

At the very back of the library, there is a study room that contains maps, scrolls, newspapers and documents.

I love looking at historical maps, as it’s like a portal back in time. You can see old territories and forgotten empires from long ago.

You can find some antique celestial globes as well as a statuette collection of important Czech rulers.

Notably, there is a bust of Nikolaus Joseph Jacquin, a Dutch-born Austrian scientist of medicine, chemistry and botany.

He designed the Kačina Castle gardens and formal grounds of the estate.

Jacquin made a name for himself by working on the Imperial Gardens at Schönbrunn Palace, where Empress Sisi of Austria resided.

So, it’s even more apt that this library featured in ‘The Empress’ on Netflix!

Kačina Pharmacy

Speaking of botany, we (reluctantly) left the library to enter the Chotek Pharmacy next door.

This room wasn’t originally built for this purpose, however, the curators use the space for apothecary items recovered at the castle over the years.

A plethora of medicinal jars lined the shelves and old medical textbooks were on display.

There were weighing scales for measurements and all sorts of curious pharmaceutical equipment.

I particularly loved the bunches of dried herbs that lined the walls. They were real and made the room smell incredible.

Baroque Theatre & Chapel

After the pharmacy, we strolled through the gardens to the opposite wing to visit the Kačina Castle Theatre.

The theatre was built in the Baroque style and was completed at the same time as the library.

The Chotek Family were avid fans of performance art, and the Count even wrote plays to perform on this stage.

They often hosted lavish parties at the château and invited nobility to watch their amateur performances.

Amazingly, all the original machinery and curtain still work today, so they still host Baroque performances throughout the year.

We ended our tour at the unfinished chapel next door, and I loved every moment of my visit!

It was so fascinating to visit the Kačina Castle library and learn the incredible history of the Chotek family.

Kačina gardens & wider grounds

After you finish your adventures inside Kačina Castle, I highly recommend a stroll around the formal gardens and extended grounds.

Although the castle is only located a few kilometres from Kutna Hora, the estate is such a peaceful place in the countryside.

There are plenty of walking/cycling paths with lots of nature, wildlife and flowers to look out for and admire.

At a minimum, I recommend a loop around the castle to appreciate the grandeur of this Empire Style building.

It’s breathtaking, and the classical facades feel like you’ve stepped back in time to another era.

As the sun was shining on my visit, I sat on the benches and relaxed in the warmth.

Tea Rooms

I was happy to see that there was a café at Kačina Castle, which was perfect for a pick-me-up.

The Empir Caféhad a lovely range of teas, coffee and cold drinks to purchase as well as ice creams and a selection of freshly baked cakes.

They had a cosy indoor setting and several seats outside to enjoy the warm weather.

The best part is you don’t need to buy a ticket to visit the café. This can be visited as part of the castle gardens, which are free to enter.

If you’re looking for a more substantial meal, Hostinec Na Huse is a restaurant just outside the entrance serving traditional Czech meals.

Is Kačina Castle worth visiting?

Yes, this magical place is well worth a visit as it’s arguably one of the prettiest libraries in all of Europe.

Although it was a bit of a journey from Prague, this day trip was worth all the time and money spent.

Being among books is my happy place, and finally visiting this castle was a dream come true for me.

Kačina is also a hidden gem, so you can escape the crowds of Prague and Kuta Hora and enjoy some peace in nature.

You simply must add Kačina Castle Library to your literary bucket list!

Opening times

Kačina Castle is open to visitors from March to late October from 10 am – 5 pm.

They run several paid guided tours that allow you to explore different parts of the château.

Always check the calendar to see what days tours are running, as it’s not always every day of the week. In April, tours only ran on Sundays.

Castle Tours run every hour, and Library Tours run every two hours on an even number (10 am / 12 pm, etc).

As there are fewer library tours and they limit the number of visitors per group, I recommend booking online to avoid disappointment.

The castle grounds are free to visit and open all year if you want to see the outside.

It’s a spectacular building and a great place to walk around for a few hours. Dogs on leads are welcome.

My top tips for your visit

You can take a local bus from Kutna Hora main station to Kačina but services are limited. On my visit, they were every 4 hours. Make sure to check the bus schedule before you go.

Guides speak Czech, but you will be given a booklet with a translation in your language.

Photos and videos are both allowed inside the library.

I recommend spending around 2-3 hours at Kačina Castle. There is plenty to explore.

Looking for more things to do in Kutna Hora?

Beyond Kačina, there are plenty of incredible things to do in Kutna Hora on a day trip.

Kutna Hora was one of my favourite places in Czechia as there is so much to see and do in this historic city.

Most people visit for Sedlec Ossuary, a hauntingly beautiful and sacred space that is filled with over 40,000 real human bones.

Sedlec Ossuary Bone Church Kutna Hora — *Sedlec Ossuary*

After the Sedlec area, you should make your way over to St Barbara’s Cathedral, the patron saint of miners.

It was constructed in 1388 in the Gothic style and is another UNESCO World Heritage site.

Kutna Hora is known as the City of Silver due to the prosperous silver mines that you could find underground here.

You can visit the Hrádek Silver Museum to enter some of the underground tunnels and see the working conditions of procuring this precious metal.

Kutna Hora St Barbara's Cathedral — *Kutna Hora*

Right next door, you have the Jesuit College constructed in 1626, or you can visit the terrace balcony that has 13 statues of patron saints lining the way.

Beyond the big UNESCO sites, there are lots of attractions to see, like the Gothic Stone Fountain, the Italian Court, Stone House, and the Historic Centre.

If you’re looking for somewhere traditional to eat, I would recommend the Dačicky restaurant. It’s a Bohemian tavern serving up traditional beer and food!

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