Visit one of the most famous castles in the Czech Republic! The royal castle of Bezděz stands proud above the forest on a hill.
Built in the 13th century, but Přemysl Otakar II, the castle has been home to royals, nobles, monks, and more. Beautiful and strong, Bezděz Castle attracts tons of visitors every year. But don’t think of it as just a tourist attraction. Bezděz Castle is one of our faves because of its deep history and majestic look!
Long story short!
To give you a bit of background, the castle was first built to defend the trade routes. But history took an unexpected turn. After Přemysl Otakar II died, the castle became the prison of his son and widowed queen. It’s a bit of a long and convoluted story, but eventually the castle fell into the hands of the Benedictines of Montserrat and became a pilgrimage site.
All that being said, there’s nothing better than seeing the history of Bezděz Castle for yourself in person! Check out our tips to get the most out of your trip.
- Guided tours: us slow travellers aren’t just here to enjoy the sights (though it’s fantastic) we want more info! The full story of Bezděz Castle is really worth listening to. And lucky for you, a guided tour of the castle is included in the ticket price.
- The 900m trek up to the castle is steep and quite rocky, but worth doing! On the way to Bezděz Castle, three castle gates and a Stations of the Cross with fifteen chapels await you. For more details on the walk, see route details below.
- At the last gate there’s a shop where you can buy tickets, souvenirs and small snacks. You’ll probably need something after the climb up to keep you going!
- Stairway of wishes: the tallest tower of Bezděz is open for you. It’s said that whoever counts all the stairs leading up the tower will have all their wishes come true. Even if the legend is simply a nice story, getting up all the stairs is worth it for the great view of Houska Castle, Macha Lake, Ještěd, Říp Mountain, and (if the weather is good!) - Milešovka the highest mountain of the Czech Central Mountains! When visiting Bezděz Castle, you can combine a trip to the nearby Houska Castle or the town of Doksy with Macha Lake.
Tips and Tricks
- We recommend visiting the castle either during the week or in the early morning to avoid the crowds! You can pre book a visit or pay by cash or card on arrival.
- Fun fact: the castle can actually be rented out for events & weddings. It’s not surprising to see couples eyeing up this location.
- While the tallest tower is open to visit, the smaller tower is not accessible. The smaller tower, aka The Devil's Tower, was once used by the military. Worth checking out just to take a photo of the outside.
- In the village of Bezděz on the way to the castle you’ll find a good number of restaurants and buffets. A trip to the village while you’re here for the castle is worth it and turns it into a good day trip.
Getting there
- By Car: 14 min walk from parking by the pond in the center of Bezděz. Parking is 100CZK per day
- By Train: 3 km from Bezděz train station. Trains L4 and R22 stop here. The castle is a 40 minute walk or 30 minutes on the bus from the station.
- By Bus: 30 min walk from bus stop Bezděz, rozc.1.5. Bus 501250 stops here. The bus doesn’t run on Sundays.
- By Bike: difficult to reach on bike, we don’t recommend it for beginners. The path is rocky and the climb is steep. Cycling is also prohibited in the Malý and Velký Bezděz National Nature Reserve. So, we recommend leaving the wheels under a hill or pushing them out.
Route details
The route is a 900m walk up from the parking lot of the village in Bezděz. Short and sweet, the path is steep and can be slippery after rainy weather.
- Signage: blue signs from the carpark. From the crossroads "Bezděz-Pod hradem", follow the red signs. Not suitable for strollers, cyclists, or wheelchair users and those with mobility issues.
- Map: available here
Open times vary, see here for more info
All seasons
Adults 120C ZK, Kids (6-17) 60CZK, Kids(0-5) free, special discount rates available.
Open; masks required during the guided tour.
Get up a little earlier in the morning than you are used to. Come to the village of Bezděz, and walk uphill to the castle. This walk will definitely wake you up. Plus, you'll enjoy a depopulated castle. Don’t miss the chapel and the tall tower with a beautiful view. On the way down, you will be rewarded with a good lunch at a local restaurant.
— Local Czech traveler, @Luke_Tripwalker