Pustý hrádek

Pustý hrádek is a small ruined watch tower standing on a hill roughly 400 meters east of Kašperk Castle, within the cadastral area of the Žlíbek settlement near the town of Kašperské Hory, in the Šumava region of the Czech Republic. Despite its name suggesting an independent stronghold, it was in fact an outlying defensive outpost of Kašperk, one of the highest-situated castles in the country.

What was Pustý hrádek built for?

The tower guarded the southeastern approach to Kašperk, the direction from which the main castle was most vulnerable to artillery fire from higher ground. Built as a five-sided tower, its purpose was to deny attackers a position from which they could bombard the castle below, and to shield the castle's economic hinterland spread out at its foot. The exact construction date is unknown; the earliest plausible period places its origin at the turn of the 1470s and 1480s, with the works commonly attributed to Zdeněk of Šternberk, who administered Kašperk at the time.

Why did it fall into ruin?

The 17th century sealed the fate of Pustý hrádek. It was already recorded as abandoned in 1616, having lost its military relevance as warfare and fortification methods changed. The final blow came after the Thirty Years' War: in 1655, Emperor Ferdinand III ordered the structure partially demolished so that, in the unsettled postwar years, it could not be used as a hideout by enemy troops or roaming bands of robbers. It has remained a ruin ever since.

What survives on site today?

Only a fragment of the tower's north wall remains from the original structure — the sole trace of what was once a tall, sturdy defensive building. A wooden staircase has been added on site, leading up to a viewing platform built on top of the ruin. From there, visitors get a view over the surrounding Šumava hills and of Kašperk Castle itself, seen from an unusual angle facing its rear side. The hill on which the tower stands rises to roughly 921 meters above sea level.

How do you get to Pustý hrádek?

A yellow-marked hiking trail leads to the ruin starting from Kašperk Castle, less than a kilometer away. The walk is short and requires no special preparation, making it a natural extension of a castle visit — many people touring Kašperk also make the brief detour to the tower for the extra view. Access is free and unrestricted, with the site open at visitors' own risk and no staff or facilities beyond the stairs and platform.

Frequently asked questions

Is Pustý hrádek a separate castle? No. It is a small defensive tower, an outlying guard post of Kašperk Castle, not an independent stronghold.

How far is it from Kašperk Castle? About 400 meters in a straight line; the walk along the yellow trail takes only a few minutes.

Is there an entrance fee? No, the ruin is freely accessible at any time, without charge, visited at one's own risk.

What actually remains of the building? A fragment of the tower's north wall survives, along with the ground on which a wooden staircase and viewing platform have since been built.

When did the tower stop being used? It was already noted as abandoned in 1616, and in 1655 it was partially torn down on the orders of Emperor Ferdinand III.