Pajrek

Pajrek is a ruined medieval castle standing roughly a kilometre south of the town of Nýrsko, on a rocky spur of the Hraničář ridge in the western part of the Bohemian Forest.

Where does the name come from?

Pajrek is the Czech rendering of the German name Baiereck, also recorded as Bayereck, meaning something like "the corner on the Bavarian border." The castle stood beside an old trade route running toward Bavaria, and for centuries it kept watch over that stretch of frontier.

Who built it, and when?

The lords of Janovice raised the castle in the mid-14th century. The earliest surviving record dates from 1356 and names Něpr z Pajrku as its owner at the time. Its job was to guard the surrounding land and keep an eye on traffic heading toward Bavaria.

What happened at the castle?

In the 15th century the castle belonged to Racek z Janovic, a supporter of King George of Poděbrady. In 1467 he defeated a Bavarian crusading force sent against the Hussite Czechs near Nýrsko. The Bavarians came back for revenge in 1472, storming the castle and burning it to the ground.

What became of it afterward?

After 1512 the estate passed to Jindřich Kostomlatský z Vřesovic, who had part of the damaged structure repaired. His own fate turned grim soon after: in 1520 he was beheaded at Prague Castle following a year's imprisonment in the Daliborka tower. From that point the castle fell into decline, and by the mid-16th century it had been abandoned for good.

What survives today?

Only the ruins of the palace wing and the tower still stand. Holes left by long-gone timber beams remain visible in the walls, and a narrow, single-file entrance survives on the first floor. Part of the tower ruin still reaches the height of a fourth storey, and patches of the original plaster cling to its north and west outer walls. It's worth knowing that the upper district of modern Nýrsko, Horní Nýrsko, began as a market settlement that once fell under the castle's authority.

How do you get there?

The ruins sit on high ground directly above Nýrsko, so the easiest approach is on foot from the town centre, following a forest path up onto the Hraničář ridge. It's an undemanding but atmospheric side trip for anyone exploring the Klatovy area or the western Bohemian Forest.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Pajrek? The ruins of a 14th-century border castle standing above the town of Nýrsko in the western Bohemian Forest.

When was the castle built? The lords of Janovice built it in the mid-14th century; the first written record dates to 1356.

Why was the castle destroyed? Bavarian forces captured and burned it in 1472, in retaliation for an earlier defeat near Nýrsko in 1467.

What can visitors see there today? The surviving ruins of the palace and tower, including beam holes in the walls and traces of the original plaster.