Helfštýn closed the season with the highest attendance since the monument opened

photo: BoysPlayNice

Přerov – With a record attendance, Helfštýn Castle in Přerov district has closed this year’s season. A total of 116,511 people visited, marking the highest attendance since the site was opened nearly 50 years ago. In November alone, 2,395 people came here, including 175 visitors last weekend, said castle spokeswoman Eva Lehnertová to ČTK. The castle will not reopen this year; however, other castles in the Olomouc region are reopening their gates for Advent.

"This is the highest attendance since the site was made accessible, and also the highest recorded attendance – the castle has been tracking this since 1974, when it had 14,218 visitors. The one hundred thousand visitor mark was surpassed at Helfštýn in 1993, 1995, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2003, 2007, 2008, and most recently last year. This year’s attendance, however, breaks all previous records, including that from 2007, when the castle welcomed 107,702 people," added Lehnertová.

The most visitors this year were attracted by the traditional international blacksmithing meeting Hefaiston, which drew 9,500 people. Many also came for Easter, the New Year's ascent to Helfštýn, and the Military History Festival. According to the castle management, the strongest months in terms of attendance were July (20,777 people) and August (27,442). The castle also faced high visitor numbers in the fall, primarily due to favorable weather – in September, 9,184 people visited, in October 8,453, and in November 2,395.

A major attraction for visitors is the reconstructed Renaissance palace. "Its renovation took place between 2017 and 2020. Last year, the project received several national and international awards, such as the Czech Architecture Award, Building of the Year, Dezeen Awards, Rudolf Eitelberger Award, and Gloria musaealis 2020," the spokeswoman added. The castle gates are now closed for three months – with the exception of January 7, when the New Year's ascent is planned. This event saw 4,077 attendees this year.

Unlike Helfštýn, other castles in the Olomouc region are reopening their gates at the end of the year and are preparing various events for Advent. For example, Šternberk Castle has organized Advent tours for visitors on Saturdays until mid-December, and there will be a traditional children's Christmas market here on December 3. Bouzov Castle is also preparing Advent tours and will reopen to visitors after the Christmas holidays and on New Year's Eve.