Pušperk Castle

Pušperk is a medieval castle ruin in the municipality of Poleň, in the Klatovy district of the Plzeň Region, perched on a forested hill known as Na Pušperské skále at roughly 582 meters above sea level. The ruins stand close to the hamlet of Pušperk, right next to Zdeslav, a small settlement belonging to the same municipality.

How to get there?

Zdeslav is one of five parts making up the municipality of Poleň, lying about 1.5 kilometers southwest of the main village. The castle ruin itself sits a few kilometers further on, next to the hamlet of Pušperk, and is reached via a marked hiking trail leading out from there. The area lies along the route of an old medieval trade road running from Klatovy through Poleň toward the Bavarian border, which explains why a fortified lookout was built on this particular hilltop.

The castle's history

The earliest written record of Pušperk dates to 1266, when the stronghold belonged to Jaroš of Slivno and Poděhus, a burgrave of Prague Castle. He is credited with founding the castle around 1260, and its name reflects his coat of arms: Pušperk comes from the German Fuchsberg, "Fox Hill," after the fox depicted on his shield. The fortress was meant to guard the newly established trade road linking Klatovy and Poleň with Bavaria, reinforcing the region alongside the newly founded royal towns of Klatovy and Domažlice.

Ownership shifted several times over the following century. Bušek of Pušperk, from the Hroznata family, is first recorded holding the castle in 1339; it later passed to the Ústupenice brothers. By the 15th century, records describe the property as abandoned, its courtyard left derelict. Shortly before its final fall, Břeněk of Ronšperk took over and rebuilt parts of the stronghold, but this did not save it: in June 1473, on the feast of Corpus Christi, the men of Klatovy stormed and destroyed the castle. It was never rebuilt afterward.

What survives today?

More than five and a half centuries after its destruction, the site still reveals the outline of its original defenses. The best-preserved element is a fragment of the prismatic residential tower, together with remnants of a curtain wall reinforced by small rectangular bastions that once traced the rounded perimeter of the complex. A deep ditch backed by an earthen rampart, partly faced with stone, still encircles the grounds, and traces of a former chapel can also be made out among the ruins. The site is freely accessible year-round, with no entrance fee.

When to visit?

Since the ruin sits on a wooded hilltop and is explored entirely outdoors, the best time to visit runs from spring through autumn, when the approach trail is dry and visibility through the trees is better. In winter, reaching the site can be harder due to forest conditions and the trail not being cleared of snow.

Frequently asked questions

When was Pušperk Castle built? It was founded around 1260, with the first written mention dating to 1266.

Who built the castle, and where does its name come from? It was founded by Jaroš of Slivno and Poděhus, a burgrave of Prague Castle. The name Pušperk derives from the German Fuchsberg ("Fox Hill"), referring to the fox on his coat of arms.

Why is the castle in ruins today? In June 1473, it was stormed and destroyed by forces from nearby Klatovy and was never restored afterward.

What remains of the original castle? Visible remains include a fragment of the residential tower, sections of the curtain wall with rectangular bastions, and a deep ditch with an earthen rampart.