A Cinderella Story
Do you know the classic Czech film Tři oříšky pro Popelku? Perhaps you know it by its English title, Three Wishes for Cinderella.
This 1973 film, created jointly by the film industries of the former Czechoslovakia and East Germany, is one of the most successful Czech films ever exported. It remains a Christmas television classic in several European countries as well as at home in the Czech Republic.
Two castles figured prominently as sets in the film: Moritzburg Castle in Germany and the subject of this article, Švihov Castle in the Czech Republic.
Stronghold in the South
Located south of the city of Plzeň, in the southwest corner of the country, Švihov Castle is a Late Gothic–style water fortress.
Originally owned by the powerful noble house of Rýzmberk, the castle’s present appearance dates to a rebuilding that took place in the late 15th and early 16th centuries following the Hussite Wars. That reconstruction was overseen by a prominent architect of the time, Benedikt Rejt. Following the work, Švihov became one of the most important and well-fortified castles of its type in Bohemia. Consisting of inner and outer sections as well as two moats, it would have taken a very determined and well-equipped adversary to stand a chance of successfully laying siege to it.
The castle changed hands in 1548. However, due to poor management, the House of Říčany—who had purchased it—were forced to sell just fifty years later. The castle’s last noble owners, the venerable and prominent Czernin family, held Švihov from 1598 until it was seized by the state following the Second World War.
Decline and Resurgence
The fortress proved its strength during the Thirty Years’ War, when it was unsuccessfully besieged twice by the Swedish army.
Following the war, Emperor Ferdinand III of Habsburg ordered the castle’s demolition. While the demolition began and cost Švihov a significant part of its outer section and moats, the Czernin family managed to obstruct and prevent its complete destruction.
Although they saved much of the structure, the Czernins could not preserve its strategic or defensive importance. Švihov retained some economic value but entered a long period of decline in the 17th century that lasted into the early 20th. By the 1920s, it was officially classified as a ruin.
Švihov survived the Second World War, and renewed interest followed after it came under state ownership. As early as 1947, plans were being made for its restoration. By the mid-20th century, the castle had reopened for public visits.
A Look Inside
The castle interiors are primarily Late Gothic and Renaissance in style.
Key stops on a guided tour include the ceremonial rooms, armoury, banquet hall, dance hall, chapel, administrative rooms, cellars, guardroom, and kitchen, among others. Visitors can also admire a selection of valuable 16th-century paintings and rare tapestries.
A highlight of the experience is a tour dedicated to the architecture and structural elements of the entrance tower—a unique opportunity to see details of castle construction up close.
Let’s Meet Popelka!
Not everything at Švihov is dedicated to ancient history. There is also an exhibition of costumes and props celebrating its role in modern Czech culture as a set for Tři oříšky pro Popelku, mentioned at the start of this article.
The costumes used in the film are particularly celebrated, and this display gives you a chance to see several up close. The film’s costumes were designed by Theodor Pištěk, who went on to win Academy Awards in 1984 and 1989 for Best Costume Design in Miloš Forman’s films Amadeus and Valmont, respectively. Pištěk also designed the uniforms worn by the Prague Castle Guard.
If you’ve never seen Tři oříšky pro Popelku—in its original Czech version or one of its translated versions—I heartily recommend it. If you grew up with Disney’s animated Cinderella, Popelka will feel both familiar and refreshingly different.
The Czech variation on the classic fairy tale draws partly from the Grimm Brothers’ version and is credited to Božena Němcová (1820–1862).
While Disney’s Cinderella is the stereotypical damsel in distress, passively waiting for rescue, Popelka is far more determined, proactive, and self-reliant—playing an active role in freeing herself from servitude to her stepmother and stepsister.
Between 2014 and 2016, the film underwent full digital restoration and improved subtitling.
Paying a Visit and Learning More
Švihov offers several guided tour options. The tours are conducted in Czech, though it’s possible to borrow guide booklets in other languages to help you follow along if you’re not a Czech speaker.
The castle is relatively easy to reach by road or rail from Plzeň. By road, it lies south of the city along the E53 motorway.
There is also some rail service between Plzeň and Švihov; however, it’s a bit of a walk from the town’s train station to the castle. It’s a good idea to check your return options before travelling, as Švihov’s station is small and there may not be anyone available to assist if you don’t speak Czech.
You can find more information at Švihov’s official website, as well as in this related article about Tři oříšky pro Popelku and the film’s enduring popularity both at home and abroad.
Beyond Prague 