Konrádov Castle

Konrádov Castle is a rock-hewn ruin near Mšeno, one of the most enigmatic strongholds of Bohemia's Kokořínsko region.

Where exactly are the ruins located?

Also known as the Petrified Castle (Zkamenělý zámek), the remains sit atop a rocky outcrop roughly one kilometer east of the village of Konrádov. Administratively, Konrádov belongs to the Blatce municipality in the Česká Lípa district, yet the rock bearing the ruins actually falls within the cadastral area of Olešna, part of the town of Mšeno in the Mělník district. That is why the site is commonly associated with Mšeno rather than its home village - the town lies closer and serves as the usual starting point for visitors exploring the Kokořínsko landscape of sandstone cliffs and narrow gorges.

What actually survives on site?

Do not expect standing walls. The stronghold was built across two separate rock blocks that were once joined by a bridge and cut off from the surrounding terrain by a deep trench carved straight into the stone. Inside the larger block, visitors can still make out a square shaft and a small chamber hollowed directly into the rock, likely used for storage. Because there is no masonry left to speak of, the place is sometimes described as a ghost castle: what remains is sculpture in living rock rather than brick and mortar.

Who built it, and why did it fall?

No written source ever mentions the castle or its owners, so everything known comes from archaeology. Pottery fragments recovered on site date to the High Middle Ages, and traces of scorched clay point to destruction by fire. Given its proximity to Houska Castle, historians suspect Konrádov may have served as a residence for a royal official answering to Bezděz Castle, which possibly founded it - though this remains an educated guess rather than a documented fact, since no charter or chronicle backs it up.

What will you see, and how do you get there?

Despite the modest remains, the hike rewards visitors with a genuine view toward Lobeč and Mšeno, showing off the rolling hills, forests, and scattered rock towers typical of Kokořínsko. A marked green tourist trail leads straight from Konrádov to the site, so no special equipment is needed beyond sturdy walking shoes.

Frequently asked questions

Are there any standing walls at Konrádov Castle? No. The ruin consists of features carved into the rock itself - a shaft and a small chamber - rather than conventional masonry. The stronghold rested on two rock blocks once linked by a bridge.

Why is it also called the Petrified Castle? The name Zkamenělý zámek reflects what remains today: elements sculpted directly into natural stone, with no traditional built walls surviving in any recognizable form.

How do I reach the ruins from Mšeno? The easiest approach is via the village of Konrádov, from where a marked green trail leads directly to the rock outcrop, about a kilometer away.

Is it worth visiting without any walls to see? Yes - the appeal lies in the view toward Lobeč and Mšeno and in the unusual rock-cut architecture itself, a rare survival in this part of the Czech Republic.