Castle Michalšperk

Castle Michalšperk is a medieval stronghold reduced today to scattered wall fragments, hidden in the forests of the Lazurový vrch nature reserve near the village of Boněnov, in the Tachov district of western Bohemia. The ruins sit above the point where the Kosí and Jilmový streams meet, and although no written record of the castle has ever surfaced, its remains still draw archaeologists and travelers looking for lesser-known corners of the region.

Where is it and how do you get there?

The ruins stand at roughly 620 metres above sea level, on a rise overlooking the valley where the Kosí and Jilmový streams converge. The site lies within the Lazurový vrch nature reserve, a stretch of forested hills on the border between the Plzeň and Tachov regions, close to the Bavarian frontier. Forest paths lead to the ruins from the nearby villages of Boněnov and Michalovy Hory; since the area is a protected nature reserve, visitors are advised to keep to the marked trails.

What is the history behind it?

The castle's history is largely a mystery, since no surviving medieval document ever mentions it. For centuries nobody even knew it was there — its remains were only discovered in 1980 during fieldwork carried out in the reserve. Based on archaeological finds, some researchers date its origin to the 13th century, while others place its construction in the mid-14th century. The name "Michalšperk" itself is not original either: it was assigned later by German historians, who linked the ruins to Michaelsberg, a mining settlement that was the predecessor of today's Michalovy Hory. Interestingly, that mining settlement only emerged once the castle was already falling into decline, which means the name in use today is a historical shorthand rather than the structure's original title.

What did the castle look like?

The stronghold had an elliptical layout measuring roughly 40 by 25 metres and belonged to the bergfried type, built around a central tower. A ditch cut into the rocky ridge protected it on the south side, overlooked by a round tower — visible today only as a mound of rubble left after its collapse. A small residential building stood in the best-protected northern part of the castle, while an outer wall shielded the site to the east and west. The modest scale and austere character of the structure suggest it served as a small defensive stronghold rather than a lord's representative residence.

What can you see today?

All that remains of the original structure are fragments of walls, along with clearly visible earthworks marking the former ditch and the rubble mound left by the collapsed tower. Since 2007 the ruins have been listed as a protected cultural monument, confirming their historical value despite their modest state of preservation. Because the site lies inside a nature reserve, visitors get more than history here — the surrounding forests and rocky outcrops of Lazurový vrch add their own appeal to the visit.

When is the best time to visit?

Spring and summer are the best seasons to explore the site, when the forest paths are dry and the reserve's vegetation is at its most striking. Autumn suits visitors who prefer a quieter walk away from the summer crowds, though it's worth noting that the forest paths can turn slippery after rain.

Frequently asked questions

When was Castle Michalšperk built? No written sources survive on this point — archaeological research places its origin somewhere between the 13th and the mid-14th century.

Where does the castle's name come from? It was assigned later by German historians, who connected the ruins with Michaelsberg, a mining settlement that preceded today's Michalovy Hory — the castle itself existed earlier, under a different, now-unknown name.

How large was the castle and what did it look like? It had an elliptical layout about 40 by 25 metres, built around a round bergfried-type tower, with a small residential building in the best-protected northern section.

Can the ruins be visited? Yes, the ruins lie within the Lazurový vrch nature reserve and are accessible to visitors who keep to the marked paths; since 2007 they have also been protected as a cultural monument.