Walk into a fairyland in the historical centre of the Czech Republic’s city of Telč. It offers beautiful monuments and is located near other intriguing destinations, making it definitely worth the trip. Keep reading to find out what to see and how to get there to make the most of your visit.
What is Telč
Telč is situated at the southwest tip of Moravia, halfway between Prague and Vienna. It has less than 6,000 inhabitants, so you might be rightly wondering why it’s worth visiting such a small city. Well, for starters, the town is well known for its historic center, which has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1992 – and there is a lot of appeal that comes along with this reputation.
The charming houses in Telč, which stand on a hilltop, were originally built of wood. In the 14th century, many buildings were destroyed by a great fire. After this unfortunate event, the town was rebuilt from stone, surrounded by walls and further strengthened by a network of artificial ponds. The renaissance and baroque fairy-tale-like buildings in a rainbow of colors remain to this day and attract many tourists to the city at all times of the year.
Another well-known destination in the south of the Czech Republic is Cesky Krumlov, which is only 112 km away from Telč. While the first place is visited by thousands of tourists at all times of the year, Telč is considered a much more underrated destination. It is definitely worth the detour if you would like to explore the beautiful landscapes of South Bohemia during a vacation.
Where is Telč
The town of Telč is located near the southwestern border between Moravia and Bohemia, in the Vysočina Region of the Czech Republic. Another reason to visit this town is that it’s close to other beautiful destinations worth visiting.
If you’re planning a trip, consider Telč on your way to or from these other spots because it is:
- 158 km away from Prague
- 95 km away from Brno
- 150 km away from Vienna
- 200 km away from Bratislava
How to get to Telč
You can go to Telč both by car and public transport, although the car is a much more convenient solution. Coming from Vienna, the roads are of high quality and you only have to pay a toll on the motorway. Leaving the highway, you can drive on smaller – but well maintained – roads to the city of Telč, from which you can enjoy the beautiful scenery. During the winter, it usually snows but the roads are cleared in both Austria and the Czech Republic.
🚗 – By car
FROM PRAGUE
The drive from Prague to Telč takes about 1h 50 minutes if you pay the tolls and go on E50 (without toll the trip is 2 h 50 mins). Take a look here for the route:
FROM VIENNA
From Vienna, it’s 2 hours 20 mins to arrive in Telč if you go through S3 and E59 (more details in the map below):
WHERE TO PARK
A great option to park your car is the central parking lot Na Sádkách – Slavatovská street. This parking is suitable for both cars and buses.
If you’re travelling by car, these are the costs for parking at Na Sádkách:
| 1 hour | 20 Kč ($0.91 USD) |
| 2 hours | 30 Kč ($1.37 USD) |
| 3 hours | 40 Kč ($1.82 USD) |
| 4 hours | 50 Kč ($2.28 USD) |
| All day | 60 Kč ($2.73 USD) |
🚌 – By public transport
From Bratislava, you can go to Telč by Flixbus with one connection using the line Bratislava – Brno Zvonařka – Telč. The trip is around 11 hours.
When in Vienna, check Flixbus from Vienna Erdberg to Brno (Bus Station Hotel Grand). The bus is not direct, but after a 10-minute connection, you will continue your trip all day to Telč. The whole trip takes around 3 hours and 45 minutes.
From Prague, there is a Flixbus to Jihlava which is 26 km away from Telc. Tickets are available for 7 euros and the journey takes about 1 hour and 40 minutes. From Jihlava Mesto, you can then take a train to Telč, which is a 1-hour train ride. Trains go almost every hour.
What to see in Telč
– Visiting Telč castle
The Telč Chateau is known as a gem in the Czech Republic because it’s one of the country’s best-preserved renaissance castles. Originally built in the 14th century in a gothic style, this castle became the permanent residence of the nobleman Zachariáš of Hradec by 1550. He rebuilt the castle, transforming it into a renaissance-style castle. Zachariáš was strongly influenced by Italian art in this period and hired the Italian architect Baldassare Maggi of Arogno to design the castle.
– Telč town square
What makes the town square particular are the rows of brightly coloured burgher houses that are reminiscent of medieval and early renaissance architecture. The homes have arcades that stretch all along the square and ornamented gables.
– Exploring the underground Telč
While Telč is beautiful above ground, it is also just as interesting underground. You can book a visit and explore the system of cellars and tunnels and learn about the facts and history of the town. The visit consists of an interactive exhibit that uses art projection technology. Skip to the section of this post on the underground tour to find out more details.
– Walk around the lake surrounding the old town
Taking a walk by the lake offers beautiful views of the castle. It’s also a great place to stop for a bite to eat, ice cream or coffee!
– Trying an authentic Czech restaurant (Švejk Restaurant Telč)
The local beers are definitely worth a try at this pub, such as the Pilsner Urquell lager and Gambrinus light lager. They have an extensive menu that includes local pickled dishes, different meats like pork sausages, duck and roast beef tartare, as well as vegetable-based soups, fresh trout and more.
The underground tour
Visit the recently reconstructed historical cellars and tunnels and learn interesting facts about the history of the town. Before you go and explore the maze of tunnels with your guide there is a short film and an exhibit. All the tunnels are connected to the houses so they could give fresh air to the inhabitants in case of a fire.
It is necessary to make a reservation at the Tourist Information Centre at least one day in advance. The tour is for a minimum of 8 people and a maximum of 15 people.
These are the ticket prices:
- Adults 30 Kč ($1.37 USD)
- Children, students 15 Kč ($0.68 USD)
- Family entrance 70 Kč / 2 adults + 3 children under 15 years ($3.19 USD)
Our experience at the Unesco site
With long rows of colorful ornamented houses on the sides of the main square, a beautiful church, and surrounded by a mesmerizing countryside and lakes you understand instantly why so many travelers make a detour just to visit this fairytale town.
It’s not so touristic yet, but there were two other tourist buses when we visited Telč in December. You don’t have to be afraid of the crowd though this is still a palace that could keep its original charm while having more and more visitors by every year.
The atmosphere of the town enchanted us completely, if we would have more time, we would have stayed for a coffee or had lunch for sure. Although I would highly recommend you to visit this area in different seasons since it shows you a different face each season.
How much time do you need to visit Telč
Since Telč is just a small town, you would think 2 hours is more than enough to explore it. I thought the same and how wrong I was! It was just an hour to walk around in the main square and see the houses in the very foggy and cold weather.
If you want to visit the castle, the Namesti Zachariáše z Hradce market square and walk around the lake it’s better if you plan your trip to spend at least half a day here and not rush through everything.
Best time to visit Telč
We visited Telč during the Advent period in December, when the first snow had already fallen. The dense fog gave the old town a magical and foreboding atmosphere and It made it impossible to see the artificial ponds that surrounded the old town. You can find a small Christmas market here during this period.
Otherwise, the months from May to July are the most comfortable if you would like to enjoy a good afternoon and walk around the old town.
