The ruins of Rotštejn Castle in Bohemian Paradise

The ruins of Rotštejn Castle lie nine kilometers northeast of Turnov, towards the guard mountain of the Bohemian Paradise Kozákov, right at the very edge of the Klokočská skály nature reserve. Partly brick and partly carved into a block of four sandstone rocks.

The castle was founded shortly after the middle of the 13th century by nobles from the Markvartic family , as the center of a large estate containing about 1/3 of today’s Turnovo, villages and extensive territory from Turnovo to today’s Chuchelna (record from 1318). it went through several construction stages during its existence. After the fire in 1318, whether the three-story brick palace was built. Rock benches , traces of a large black drop-shaped kitchen and a large chimney have been preserved in the former kitchen . We can also see the remains of a brick palace and a castle wellcarved in rock. In 1318, during the burning of the castle by more than 150 surrounding nobles, the castle was burned down and gradually rebuilt. The Rotštejn family died out in the first half of 1415. On July 7, 1415, the widow of the last owner, Mrs. Žofek, sold the entire part of the Rotštejn estate in Turnovsko to Vaňka Paldro from Vařine, and the Rotštejn family disappeared from history for good. The castle remained in the possession of the Catholic family from Vařine throughout the Hussite War. First, it is mentioned in the sources as a “deserted castle with collapsed walls and rocks in the courtyard” lp.1514. The probable cause of the castle’s destruction was the natural weathering of the sandstone rocks and the subsequent subsidence of the terrain.

Due to erosion, natural weathering and also skilled people destroying and dismantling the manor house, very little has survived to the present day. As early as 1602, people fleeing the cities began to adapt the newly excavated hollows at the foot of the rocks and used them as cottages, warehouses, barns   , and we can’t even find traces of a fruit dryer… all this until the mid-twenties of the 20th century. Non-invasive research on the entire monument is still ongoing.

The castle is owned by the municipalities of Mírová pod Kozákovem and Klokočí, which in cooperation with the free tramp, now the civic association Ochrana Klokočské skal , took care of the rescue and conservation of the monument in the years 1988-2003.Rotštejn is a ruin with expositions and exhibitions. It is therefore only open during normal opening hours and in good weather. It is also possible to visit a whole range of events in Rotštejn, which are presented under the collective name Rotštejnská setkávání .

Operator

Protection of Klokočské rocks
511 01 Turnov

Tel.: +420 721 195 471

GPS: 50.594244 15.224433

Region: Liberec region
Region: Czech paradise
City: Tournament
Tips for a trip: Turnov and surroundings

Opening hours

April
1.4. – 30.4.
Monday – Friday CLOSED
Saturday 10:30 – 17:00
Sunday 10:30 – 16:00

May – June
1.5. – 6.6.
Saturday 10:00 – 17:00
Sunday 10:00 – 16:00

June – August
7.6. – 31.8.
Monday – Friday 10:00 – 16:00
Saturday 10:00 – 17:00
Sunday 10:00 – 16:00

September
1.9. – 30.9.
Monday – Friday CLOSED
Saturday 10:00 – 17:00
Sunday 10:00 – 16:00

Note: 
Organized groups of 10 people or more can arrange a visit to an educational event or a tour of the monument outside these times at least a week in advance. In case of rainy or exceptionally cold weather, the monument must remain closed.

Admission Fees

• Price:  50 CZK
• Reduced price:  25 CZK

Note:
50 CZK adult, children from 6 to 12 years 25 CZK, children under 6 years free. Closed in rainy weather. (Prices might differ)

Duration

1.5 hours- Hours