Castles That Still Feel Alive

Most countries have castles. Few have as many as the Czech Republic, and fewer still have kept them in such varied states of preservation. You can visit a fully restored royal palace in the morning and walk through a romantic ruin by afternoon, both within an hour's drive of Prague.

What makes this country interesting for castle visitors is the sheer density. The Bohemian and Moravian landscapes are dotted with fortifications from the 13th century onward, each built for different reasons — royal prestige, border defence, noble ambition, or simple strategic necessity. Walking between them, you start to read the landscape differently.

I have been visiting these places for several years now, mostly on weekends from Prague. This site collects what I have learned: which sites justify the entry fee, how to avoid the worst crowds, and what context makes the stones make sense.