Klamorna

Klamorna is the ruin of a rock castle east of the village of Dneboh, in the Mladá Boleslav district, within the Český ráj (Bohemian Paradise) Protected Landscape Area in the Czech Republic. Set among the sandstone formations of the Příhrazské skály (Příhraz Rocks) at an elevation of around 340 metres, it is one of the lesser-known but genuinely rewarding stops in this landscape of rock towns and hidden fortifications.

How do you get there?

Klamorna lies roughly 4 km southeast of Mnichovo Hradiště, a small town that serves as a convenient base for exploring this part of Bohemian Paradise. The ruins are reached on foot, along a trail that follows the edge of the sandstone cliffs; a popular route links Klamorna with the far better-known rock castle Drábské světničky nearby, using a stretch of the red-marked Golden Trail (Zlatá stezka) through the region. Access to the ruins is free and possible year-round, making the site an easy addition to a day of hiking that can combine several nearby attractions in one outing.

What is the history behind these ruins?

Archaeological findings show that the earliest traces of settlement at Klamorna date back to the Middle Eneolithic period — meaning the site has been used by people for roughly five thousand years. That makes it one of the oldest occupied points in this stretch of Bohemian Paradise, even though its exact role in prehistoric times remains only loosely understood.

The castle itself was built much later, most likely in the 13th century, taking advantage of the natural defensive strength of a rocky spur. It was rebuilt or renovated during the 1430s, but was abandoned not long after that. Historians have not been able to pin down precisely what function Klamorna served within the region's medieval defence network, though its close relationship with the neighbouring hillfort Hrada is well established: the two sites formed a single fortified complex. They were linked by a narrow passage and separated by a timber-and-clay rampart roughly 2 metres high and nearly 7 metres wide, which allowed the defenders to control access to the whole site.

What can you see today?

Despite the centuries that have passed, the ground still preserves clear traces of the old fortifications. Visitors can make out sections of ramparts with accompanying ditches, along with chambers carved directly into the sandstone rock — a feature typical of many rock castles across Bohemian Paradise. A ditch cut straight into the stone still separates different parts of the site, and a well or cistern hewn into the rock survives as well, a reminder of how the castle's inhabitants once secured their water supply.

Together with the neighbouring Hrada hillfort and the Drábské světničky rock castle, Klamorna has been protected as a cultural monument since 1967. It is precisely this proximity of three related sites that makes walking through this part of Bohemian Paradise so interesting — the route traces different chapters of settlement on these rocks, from prehistory through to the Middle Ages.

When is the best time to visit?

As an open-air, largely natural site, Klamorna is best visited in the warmer months — spring and summer, when longer daylight hours make it easier to combine the ruins with a longer hike among the surrounding rocks. Autumn brings fewer visitors, which suits travellers looking for a quieter walk and better conditions for photographing the sandstone formations that frame the ruins.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is Klamorna located? East of the village of Dneboh, in the Mladá Boleslav district, about 4 km southeast of Mnichovo Hradiště, within the Český ráj Protected Landscape Area.

When was Klamorna castle built? Most likely in the 13th century, although traces of settlement on the site go back to the Eneolithic period, around five thousand years ago. The castle was rebuilt in the 15th century before being abandoned.

What has survived from the original structure? Sections of ramparts and ditches, chambers carved into the rock, a rock-cut ditch separating parts of the castle, and a well or cistern hewn into the stone.

How do you reach the ruins? On foot, via a trail along the sandstone cliffs connecting Klamorna to the nearby rock castle Drábské světničky, following part of the Golden Trail through Bohemian Paradise. Entry is free and the site is open year-round.