The Musketeers: Where to find the fairy-tale castles
Don't head to France for the romance of The Musketeers – those châteaux are actually located in the Czech Republic
The spectacular Strahov Monastery is one of Prague’s biggest tourist draws. Mozart is believed to have played the organ in the church, whose walls are decorated with frescoes. BBC crews were allowed rare access to film in the monastery’s ornate library, which contains more than 200,000 volumes – many of them centuries-old and containing sheets of the original old vellum. “The Monastery is open to the public and it has these amazing ceilings,” enthuses Wratten.
ON SCREEN: The spectacular interiors feature when the Cardinal confronts the King in the opening episode. A reception room, where we first see the Duke of Savoy, was also filmed at Strahov.
SVIHOV CASTLE
One of the best-preserved castles in the Czech Republic, this fairy-tale location is an hour away from Prague. It houses a museum displaying fascinating historic photographs, a courtyard and rooms with intricate carved ceilings.
ON SCREEN It features in season one, when Rochefort (Marc Warren) arrives at the end of the first episode. The castle doubles for Cardinal Richelieu’s office and is also used for the Spanish prison from which D’Artagnan rescues General De Foix in episode one of series two.
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ON SCREEN: “It’s a magnificent building. We used it for the funeral of Cardinal Richelieu, as well as the christening of the Queen’s son,” says Wratten. “Visitors can attend services.” And it’s the perfect venue for the classical concerts that are held there.
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