Brada

The forested ridge above the Jinolické ponds, dominated by Přivý?ina (463m), and not far to the east below these hills stands the early Gothic castle of Brada from the 13th century, the family residence of the Načeradec family. Today we find only the very modest remains of walls and terrain modifications. Here stands a cross and statues of St. Peter and St. Paul in memory of the battle in 1866 (see page).

Bradlec

Ruins of a castle from the 14th century, the former residence of the powerful Markvartic family. It was built from local dark basalt. Like a series of other castles, Bradlec was the home to bands of brigands after the Hussite Wars, who preyed on the surrounding countryside. Later the castle was abandoned for poor access, began to deteriorate and today is a mere ruin.

Drabske svetnicky

A group of seven grand, high sandstone blocks east of Mnichovo Hradiste. In the 13th century, a castle was built on this great rock massif and the rock blocks connected to each other by wooden bridges, stairways and passageways. Features include rooms carved in the rock, of which 18 have been preserved to this day. Once there was a pulpit here with a chapel, prison and guardhouse. During the Counterreformation, the Czech Brethren sought refuge here. After the Battle of Lipany, the castle was abandoned, became dilapidated and today we find only traces of all buildings, bridges and palisades of the battlements in the form of holes in the rock. The site is open to the public and is worth visiting, and it offers a wonderful view into the surroundings. In the museum in Mnichovo Hradiste is a model detailing the previous form of Drabske svetnicky.

Open: free entrance
tel.: Mr. Stekly - 603 837 024

Frydstejn

A ruin from a castle from the Middle Ages (14 th century) out of which a big tower has been preserved (diameter 9 meters). It is the dominant of the Vranovsky ridge. There are also remnants of walls of the inner castle as well as those of rooms which were cut in the rock. In the course of the Hussite Wars the castle was besieged but without success. A century later it became desolate.

Open: May - September - daily except Monday 9 am- 4 pm,
October - Sa, Su, holidays 9.00-16.00
tel.: Municipality Frydstejn ? 483 393 060
Adress: OU Frydstejn, 463 42 Frydstejn, oufrydstejn@iol.cz, www.frydstejn.cz

Chlum

Also called Kozlov. It lies 2,5 kilometers to the southwest from Turnov, on the northwest edge of Hruba Skala plateau. A wooden castle was built here in the 13th century. It became desolate in the 15th century.

Kavciny

Tiny remnants of a small rock watch house from the 14 th century that protected Valdstejn from its most vulnerable side. It was a seat of robbers´ groups and became desolate after capturing in 1440.

Klamorna

Today only the remnants of the former walled town from the later Stone Age and the rock castle from the Middle Ages remain. Traces of ramparts, foundations of buildings and the remnants of carved rooms in the cliff have been preserved.

Kost

The best preserved Gothic castle in Bohemia was built in the turn of the 14th and 15th centuries on a sandstone rock in tke middle of three valleys. The core of the castle was formed by an old palace, a residential tower and a chapel. The castle was burned down several times. New parts of the castle were built in the 15th and 16th centuries. After the Thirty Years´War it was used for economic purposes only. The exposition has been formed from the property of the Kinsky family. There is a Renaissance kitchen and exibition of historical weapons from the military museum.

Open:
April - We-Su 9-11.30, 13-15.30
May, June, September - Tu-Su 9-11.30, 13-16.30
July, August - Mo-Su 9-18
Adrress: Podkost 1-8, 507 45 Mladejov v Cechach
tel.: 493 571 144, 737 215 960, e-mail: kost@kinsky-dal-borgo.cz, www.kinsky-dal-borgo.cz

Kostal

Since 1374, the knoll above the Ole?ka River has borne Ko?ťal castle, which belonged to the Lomnice Valdstejn family. Since the 16th century it has been abandoned and today above the overgrowth traces of ramparts and moats roams the spirit of Countess Slavatová, who was killed by her sibling in a struggle for property.

Kozlov

Remnants of a small rock castle from the 13th century located 8 kilometers from Jicin above the village Kosov. The castle was cut in the sandstone. The surrounding rock formations were used as a part of the fortification of the then mainly wooden castle.

Kumburk

Remnants of a Gothic castle that was founded at the beginning of the 14th century. In 1658 it was destroyed by the order of the Emperor Ferdinand III. Located 6 kilometers from Nova Paka.

Michalovice

The castle was established by the Markvartic family at the end of the 13th century and was abandoned in the 15th century. The castle tower called Putna was undermined by treasure-hunters in the 19th century and it began to tilt. Today it is statically secured and offers a view into the surroundings. Memorial plaque noting a visit by K. H. Macha.

Open: May - October daily except Mondays 10.00-17.00
Tel.: 606 544 313 Mr. Kosvanec
Address: Podlazky, 293 01 Mlada Boleslav

Mlada Boleslav

At the confluence of the Jizera and Klenice Rivers, a wooden castle was first built and then later was replaced by a stone fortress, which underwent reconstructions in the 15th and 16th centuries. In the past, the object served as a military base, today it houses the regional museum.

Parez

A ruin of a small Gothic rock castle from the late 14th century and early 15th century. It was burned down after it had become a refuge of robbers. Only remnants of rooms cut in the rock, a stone tower and the peripheral walls were preserved. Groschen of Wenceslals IV. were found here.

Rotstejn

A ruin of a rock castle from the end of the 14th century, in the southern part of the Klokocske rocks. It became desolate in the 15th century. A number of rooms cut in the rock, a deep well, a wall with embrasures and traces of beams of wooden parts of the buildings have been preserved.

Open:
september - Sa 10-17, Su 10-16
June, August - Mo-Sa 10-17, Su 10-16

Adrress: Mirova pod Kozakovem, 511 01 Turnov
Tel.: 721 195 471, 481 311 765, 487 356 003, oks@cmail.cz, http://www.rotstejn.info

Trosky

Remnants of a castle of the Vartenberk family that was built in the 14th century on a steep basalt volcanic rock massif which is devided into two towers. The higher tetragonal one is called The Maiden and the lower and more robust is named The Old Woman. The core of the castle was formed by a castle palace and a courtyard with farm buildings . Thanks to its defensive stone wall and advantageous stratagic position the castle stood well against all military attacks. Since the Thirty Years´War the castle has become desolate. A nice view to a big distance.

Open: April and October - only Saturdays, Sundays and holidays: 8.30 - 16.00,
May - August - daily except Monday: 8.30-18.00 (time of last visit),
September-daily except Monday: 8.30-16.00 tel.: 481 313 925,
hrad@trosky.cz, www.trosky.cz
Address: castle Trosky, 512 63 Rovensko pod Troskami tel.: 481313925

Valdstejn

It was founded in the middle of the 13th century by the Markvartic family. Albrecht from Valdstejn (Wallenstein), a famous military leader, came of this family later on. The castle became desolate in the 16th century. In the Barocque period it became a well known place of pilgrimage. Romantic changes from the 19th century complete the appearance of the area. A stone bridge with Baroque statues and a chapel of St. John from Nepomuk are of extraordinary value.

Open: April, October - only Saturdays, Sundays and holidays 9.00-16.00,
May - September Monday - Sunday 9.00-16.30
tel.: 481 312 304, hrad.valdstejn@cbox.cz, www.hrad-valdstejn.cz

Address: castle Valdstejn,  511 01 Turnov

Valecov

A ruin of a rock castle that was cut into sandstone headland close to Muzsky in the early 14th century. The castle was completed with stone and timbered wooden buildings. In 1512 a new place was created.

Open: November - March - Sa, Su, Hol. 10-16.30,
April-October - Sa, Su, Hol. 9-17,
May-August - Tu-Su 9-18,
September - Tu-Su 9-17
Adrress: Bosen, 295 01 Mnichovo Hradiste
OÚ Boseň 326 784 204, 605 565 225, www.volny.cz/bosen

Velis

On a hill of the same name that is located 5 kilometers to the southwest from Jicin there are remnanats of a destroyed castle from the end of the 13th century. Hussite compact was hidden there for one hundred years. Findings of relics from the Bronze Age and from the age of fortified settlement in the primeval settlement. (findings are deposited in the Jicin Museum)

Vranov - Pantheon

This castle on a narrow and steep rock ridge is also called Skala and was built around the year 1425. The core of the castle is composed of a multi-storey palace surrounded on three sides by rock blocks. Legends and some Medieval depictions support the idea that there were windmills on the rocks. The deteriorating castle exchanged owners and in 1803 came into the hands of F. Z. Romisch, a failed, excited, slightly mad romantic. He turned Vranov into a Pantheon, covering the rock with a great number of memorial inscriptions and monuments, noting various heroic acts and personalities and busts of the three emperors, victors over Napoleon, were installed in the Hall of Heroes. On the sunny slopes of the Pantheon, he ultimately established a vineyard (the northernmost in Bohemia). The neo-Gothic chapel, a small path carved in the cliff, caves and various memorial plaques have been preserved

Open: duben, květen, září, říjen so, ne, sv 9.00–18.00
červen – srpen denně 10.00–18.00
Adrress: 468 22 Malá Skála, tel.: 483 392 045, e-mail: ou.mala.skala@iol.cz, www.mala.skala.cz

Zasadka

Originally a castle from the 14th century on the confluence of the rivers Mohelka nad Jizerou. After 1560 it was converted into a Renaissance chateau which caught fire in 1790 and became desolate in the 19 th century.

Zbirohy

A ruin of a castle that was built on three rock massifs of the sandstone headland Sokol in the 14 th century. In the course of the Hussite Wars it was a part of a chain of castles Frydstejn - Vranov - Zbirohy. In the early 15th century it was burnt down, destroyed and become desolate.

Zviretice

Ruins of an early Gothic castle from the beginning of the 14th century. It was protected on three sides by high banks and deep channels. In the 16th century it was rebuilt into a Renaissance chateau. This burnt down in 1720 after it was struck by lightning. One of the original four towers remains the landmark of the ruins.