The Czech Republic has not only a reputation as a beer country, our wines have also been winning many prizes in the international wine tasting arena. Take a tour to Melnik, a city situated about 1 hours drive north of Prague. Visit the Castle Melnik which still belongs to the noble Lobkowicz family. After the fall of the iron curtain, this once very influential family continued in it’s tradition here, wine making.
After your guide and vehicle with driver pick you up in your hotel or location of your choice, you will be driven north to the city of Melnik. After your approximately 1 hours drive, you will take a tour of the castle with your guide. After, it’s time for your wine tasting. Your celler master takes you through their 14th century wine cellar and offers you 6 different wines to taste, accompanied by freshly baked local bread as well as cheese and other snacks. Should you like to take any of the wines home with you, a well stacked shop is there as well.
History of the Castle: Since Princess Ludmila, the grandmother of the Good King Wenceslas, who was born in Melnik, the castle has been the residence of the queen widows of Bohemia. Under Emperor Charles IV, Melnik became a royal town. His last wife built the chapel of the castle with its gothic vaults. The last queen who resided in Melnik, was the wife of king Jiri of Podebrady during the 15th century. In the following years, the estate of Melnik became the property of different noble families. In 1542 the castle was reconstructed in renaissance style and the two arcades, richly decorated with sgrafitto patterning, have been added. During the Thirty Years War, 1618 – 1648, the castle was abandoned. In 
the year 1646 Count Czernin started a major reconstruction and had the early barrock southern wing added. The Count purchased the Melnik Estate from the Emperor Ferdinand II. The heiress of the Czernin family, Countess Ludmila Czernin, married Prince August Anton Lobkowicz in 1753. With the exception of the Second World War and 
the 41 years of communist rule, Melnik Castle remained in the Lobkowicz family.
About Czech vineyards: The vineyards of Mělník lie approximately 35 km north of Prague at an altitude of 200 metres above sea level. Mělník forms part of the Czech wine region, one of the northern-most viticultural areas of Europe. The vineyards of Bohemia do not form a contiguous wine region but consist of several vine growing districts situated on the south-facing slopes of the valleys of the rivers Elbe, Vltava, Berounka and Ohře, each with its particular microclimates. The vine growing district of Mělník has 160 hectares, the largest vineyard area in Bohemia.
Prices are in EUROS and valid until December 31, 2011.
|
Guide only
up to 20 people |
Guide only
21 people and up |
Guide, driver, car
+ up to 2 guests |
Guide, driver, van
+ up to 6 guests |
Entrance fees
per person |
|
EUR 115 |
EUR 140 |
EUR 225 |
EUR 260 |
approx. EUR 15 |
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