Radeč Castle

Radeč is a little-known medieval hillfort ruin tucked into the forests near Hrubá Skála, in the heart of the Bohemian Paradise (Český ráj) region. Unlike its famous neighbours - the Hrubá Skála château or Valdštejn Castle - Radeč has no standing walls or towers left to see. What survives are subtler traces in the ground: a ditch cut straight into the rock and a shallow depression marking a vanished timber structure.

Where is it and how do you get there?

The fortified site sits on a long, narrow rocky spur roughly half a kilometre west-southwest of the Bukovina arboretum, close to the village of Kacanovy. There is no marked hiking trail leading directly to it, so reaching Radeč means following forest paths - bring an offline map or GPS track of the Hrubá Skála area. It makes a rewarding detour for visitors who have already covered the main sights of Bohemian Paradise and want something quieter and less obvious.

What can you actually see on site?

A deep ditch, carved directly into the sandstone bedrock, cuts the fort off from the rest of the promontory and is still clearly visible today. In the northwestern part of the former outer bailey, a square depression in the ground marks what was probably a wooden tower-like structure, likely serving both defensive and residential purposes. The fortifications themselves are modest - this reads more like a small watch-post than a lordly residence, but the surviving earthworks make it fairly easy to picture the original layout.

What do we know about its history?

Archaeologists only identified and documented the site in 1989 - for centuries it had gone essentially unnoticed. Excavations date the hillfort's construction to the 14th century, with its abandonment placed no later than the 15th century. The only possible written reference is a title held by "Zbud of Radeč," recorded in documents from 1318-1323, though it is unclear whether this refers to the fort near Hrubá Skála or to a different, now-vanished settlement called Radeč near Hořice. Historians also consider it possible that Radeč served as an outlying watch-post guarding the approach to nearby Hrubá Skála or Valdštejn Castle.

Why pair it with the rest of Bohemian Paradise?

The area around Hrubá Skála is one of the most distinctive corners of the Český ráj UNESCO Geopark, famous for its sandstone rock cities and deep gorges. Nearby, perched on its own rock ledge, stands the Hrubá Skála château, today run as a hotel. Despite its modest remains, Radeč fits naturally into a walking route linking these sights - an interesting stop for anyone curious about medieval settlement archaeology alongside the region's better-known attractions.

Frequently asked questions

Is there a marked trail to the Radeč ruins? No - reaching the site means following unmarked forest paths, so it helps to bring a map or offline navigation.

What exactly will you see there? Mainly a rock-cut ditch and a square depression left by a former timber structure - no walls or towers remain standing.

When was Radeč built? Archaeological research dates its construction to the 14th century, with the site abandoned by the 15th century.

Do we know who built it? Not for certain - the only possible written clue is a mention of "Zbud of Radeč" from 1318-1323, though it is not confirmed that it refers to this same site.