Mikulov zámek (Mikulov Château)

Mikulov zámek (Mikulov Château) Review

Looming over the tiny main square and surrounding area is this arresting château. Built as the Gothic-era residence of the noble Liechtenstein family in the 13th century, the château later served as the residence of the powerful Dietrichsteins. Napoléon Bonaparte also stayed here in 1805 while negotiating peace terms with the Austrians after winning the Battle of Austerlitz (Austerlitz is now known as Slavkov, near Brno). Sixty-one years later, Bismarck used the castle to sign a peace treaty with Austria. The castle's darkest days came at the end of World War II, when retreating Nazi SS units set fire to it. Much of what you see today—though it looks deceptively ancient—is relatively new, having been rebuilt after World War II. The château holds the Regionální Muzeum (Regional Museum), exhibiting period furniture and local wine-making items, including a remarkable wine cask, made in 1643, with a capacity of more than 22,000 gallons.