Frejštejn

Frejštejn is a ruined medieval castle standing right next to the village of Podhradí nad Dyjí, on a rocky promontory above the point where the Křeslický stream flows into the Dyje River. The ruins lie in the Znojmo district of the South Moravian Region, close to the Austrian border, and can be visited free of charge at any time.

Where exactly do the ruins stand?

The castle occupies a narrow, elevated spur of rock jutting into a bend of the Dyje, right at the confluence with the Křeslický stream. Steep slopes falling toward the water protected the site on three sides, leaving only a narrow ridge on the landward side as an approach — the route now used by hikers coming from Podhradí nad Dyjí.

When was the castle built and who lived there?

The castle's origins go back to the 13th century, when it was founded as a Gothic residence combining two roles: a defensive outpost guarding the southern border with Austria, and a home for its noble owners. For roughly two centuries Frejštejn remained an inhabited knightly seat, overseeing the river crossing and the surrounding routes along the Dyje valley.

Why was the castle destroyed?

The castle's fortunes changed when it came into the hands of Jan Krajčík z Krajku, remembered as a robber knight. His activities from the castle prompted the Moravian estates to buy Frejštejn and have it demolished, stripping it of any further military value and denying future owners a base for raiding. By the late 15th century, records already describe the castle as abandoned.

What happened to the site afterward?

Even after its destruction, the ruined castle did not disappear entirely from use. In the 16th century part of the remains was rebuilt into a smaller fortification — the tower with gun slits that still stands today dates from this phase, showing that the site retained some defensive purpose for a while longer, albeit in a much more modest form than the original knightly castle.

What has survived to this day?

Visitors can see a tall stretch of the northern perimeter wall of the castle core together with its gate, part of the outer bailey buildings, and a section of the outer wall reinforced with bastions on the western side. A polygonal bastion with gun slits survives in the southwestern corner, while within the castle core the foundations of a round bergfried tower — once the last line of defense — are still visible. A small remnant of the palace building and the castle chapel has also been preserved.

Is Frejštejn worth visiting?

The ruins of Frejštejn appeal to anyone who enjoys combining history with a scenic river landscape — the promontory the castle sits on gives views over the bend of the Dyje and the wooded slopes around it. The site has not been developed for mass tourism, which many visitors count as part of its appeal: there are no crowds and no admission gates, just the ruins and the surrounding forest.

Frequently asked questions

Is there an entrance fee for the ruins? No, the castle is freely accessible and can be visited at no cost.

What is the best way to reach the castle? The shortest approach starts in the village of Podhradí nad Dyjí, from where a hiking trail follows the ridge of the promontory to the ruins.

How old is Frejštejn Castle? Its history dates back to the 13th century, making it more than seven hundred years old.

Why is the castle linked to a robber knight? Because one of its owners, Jan Krajčík z Krajku, used it as a base for raiding, which led the Moravian estates to buy and demolish the castle.

What remains of the original structure? Mainly fragments of the defensive walls, the gate, a 16th-century tower with gun slits, the foundations of the bergfried, and traces of the palace building and chapel.