Kasperk Castle

Kasperk was founded in 1356 by Charles IV on a ridge at 886 metres in the Sumava foothills, which makes it the highest royal castle in Bohemia, and its purpose was economic: the district around Kasperske Hory was one of the main gold-producing areas in the kingdom, worked from placer deposits and then from shafts, and the Golden Road, the salt trade route from Passau, ran below. The castle is a long narrow block along the ridge with two towers at the ends and a palace between, and it survives as a stabilised ruin, roofless but with the walls to full height and the towers climbable. It was in use into the sixteenth century, then abandoned. The view runs over the forest to the Sumava ridge. Kasperske Hory below has a museum on the gold mining and the Golden Road, and the surrounding hills carry the traces of the workings.

History

Kašperk was founded in 1356 by Charles IV, and historians give three reasons: to strengthen the border against Bavaria, to control the gold-rich district around Kašperské Hory, and to guard the "Golden Route", the trade road linking Bohemia and Bavaria with western Europe. A royal castle in name and status, it never had a royal occupant; it was given to the king's pledge holders, who with it received authority over administrative and judicial matters in the Prácheň region, a large part of southwestern Bohemia. The first was Jan Očko of Vlašim, second archbishop of Prague and the first Czech cardinal. From 1411 to 1454 it belonged to the Zmrzlík of Svojšín and Orlík family, a father and son both named Peter, the father a royal moneyer; as Utraquists they were never attacked by the Hussites. In the mid-15th century it passed to the Sternbergs, and when Zdeněk of Šternberk rose against King George of Poděbrady in 1465 the castle became a strategic stronghold and a small fortress was hastily built; ruins 400 metres to the east, known as the Deserted Fort, are believed to be its remains. The castle has belonged to the town of Kašperské Hory since 1616 (Wikipedia, Kašperk Castle).

What you'll find

• The highest royal castle in Bohemia - at 886 metres on a forest ridge.
• Two end towers - with the palace block between them, walls to full height.
• Gold-mining country - placer and shaft workings traceable in the hills.
• The Golden Road - the salt trade route from Passau running below.

When to go

May to September. Half a day.

Practical notes

Access is on foot, about half an hour uphill from the nearest parking. It is a roofless ruin. Seasonal opening only, with tours at set times. Weather on the ridge changes fast.

Nearby

Kasperske Hory and its gold museum are below; Rabi is north.

Key facts