Helfštýn Castle near Lipník nad Bečvou – guardian of the Moravian Gate

Helfštýn Castle is only 4 km from Lipník nad Bečvou. It is a natural cultural center of the region and a well-known place of international meetings of artistic blacksmiths “Hefaiston” with a permanent exhibition. After a long reconstruction, the castle with the torso of the Renaissance castle palace is open again.

The location of the castle near Lipník , in the middle of wooded hills above the valley with the river Bečva , and the tourist facilities (restaurant, parking lot, souvenir shop, nearby accommodation) will satisfy even those visitors who love nature, peace and comfort.

Since 1982, artistic blacksmiths from all over the world have regularly gathered here on the last weekend in August for the Hefaiston event. In order for Helfštýn Castle to become a world-renowned center of artistic blacksmithing, ongoing reconstruction work is also aimed at it. During the season, the extensive area offers cultural programs of various genres – historical fencing, theater, music and dance productions.

Torso of a Renaissance palace
After two centuries of decay, decades of searching for a way to rescue it and three years of construction work, the reconstruction of the torso of the Renaissance castle palace was completed in August 2020. The castle palace offers a unique view of the Moravian Gate valley from the balcony . For two centuries, the torso of the palace was not roofed, but this is no longer the case. The palace received a glass roof, as well as several staircases and bridges that connected places where no human foot had set foot for centuries.

You can also look forward to exhibitions of artistic blacksmithing and archaeological artefacts from research from past years, as well as stone-sculptural articles such as ribs, consoles or bolts.

Exposition of the palace:

-The Gothic period under the Pernštejn family
-Construction development
-Archeological research
-Gothic period

Exhibition of artistic blacksmithing

A unique collection of artistic blacksmithing is presented in a number of places in Helfštýn Castle. The main center for the presentation is a permanent exhibition located in the basement of the castle palace in the fourth courtyard.

The administration of Helfštýna Castle has been engaged in systematic collection-building activities for almost three decades . Initially, the collections were made up of exhibits forged during the Hephaiston blacksmithing event. These objects are specific in that their production usually did not exceed the time span of two hours . The number of these exhibits already exceeds a thousand pieces. Only the highest quality works are part of the exhibition. The given spaces do not allow the simultaneous exhibition of all award-winning or otherwise significant works, therefore the exhibition scenario changes every year. In addition, the permanent exhibition is complemented by more monumental compositions created at the Blacksmith’s Forum or acquired through the purchase of selected works, a gift or a loan. The exhibition’s attractiveness is guaranteed by the author’s representation of the most important artistic blacksmiths from the second half of the 20th century to the current world leaders. However, space is also dedicated to beginning authors and graduates of professional educational institutions. The exhibition is decorated with award-winning graduation theses.

Exposition of the historical mint

In the basement of the Renaissance palace on IV. through the castle courtyard you can enter the historic mint.

Coin reform of Wenceslas II. In 1300 , it introduced a new coin into circulation – the Prague grosz . The minting was made possible by the rich silver reserves in Kutná Hora , where the country’s only central mint began operations. The need for small coins was covered by the minting of parves , to which in 1384 denominations were added on a square cut u – money and penny, replaced in the 1550s by circular money with a lion and penny with a crown . The Moravian cities of Brno and Znojmo also minted circular money in this periodand Jihlava .

Operator

Helfštýn Castle
Helfštýn
751 31 Lipník nad Bečvou
Tel.: +420 581 797 093

web: https://helfstyn.cz/

GPS: 49.517868 17.628271

Region: Olomouc region
Region: Central Moravia
City: Lipník nad Bečvou
Tips for a trip: Lipník nad Bečvou and surroundings

Opening hours

March
1.3. – 31.3.
Monday – Friday CLOSED
Saturday Sunday 09:00 – 16:00

April
1.4. – 30.4.
Monday CLOSED
Tuesday – Sunday 09:00 – 17:00

May – June
1.5. – 30.6.
Monday CLOSED
Tuesday – Sunday 09:00 – 18:00

July – August
1.7. – 31.8.
Monday CLOSED
Tuesday – Sunday 09:00 – 18:00

September – October
1.9. – 31.10.
Monday CLOSED
Tuesday – Sunday 09:00 – 17:00

November
1.11. – 30.11.
Monday – Friday CLOSED
Saturday Sunday 09:00 – 16:00

Note: 
Open on public holidays.

Admission Fee

Price:  150 CZK

Reduced price:  80 CZK

Note:
The stated entrance fee is valid for the summer tourist season (April – October).

Visit Duration

1-3 Hours