Stajice Castle

Stajice Castle lies in ruins on a wooded hill between the villages of Maršovice and Zderadice, in the Benešov district of the Czech Republic.

Where is Stajice Castle located?

The ruins sit atop Stejc hill, roughly 466 metres above sea level, between the villages of Maršovice and Zderadice in central Bohemia. It's a quiet rural corner well off the main tourist routes, which is exactly why the site has kept its low-key, off-the-beaten-path charm.

When was the castle built, and by whom?

The castle was raised in the first half of the 14th century by the knightly Stajice family, from whom it took its name. The earliest written record dates to 1348 and mentions Jindřich of Stajice, who used a surname derived from the seat itself. The site is also sometimes referred to by its older name, Stejc, taken from the hill it stands on.

What happened to the castle in the medieval period?

The following decades were turbulent. Before 1399, the stronghold reportedly served as a base for bands of robbers, making it a nuisance for the surrounding estates. In 1405, Herbart of Kolovrat and the bailiff Petřík hired a company of mercenaries who captured the castle in 1406, damaging nearby estates belonging to the powerful Rožmberk family in the process. The Rožmberks retaliated and retook the stronghold by force. These conflicts sapped the castle's importance, and through the 15th century it gradually fell into disuse.

When did the castle become permanently abandoned?

Records indicate that by around 1531 the castle was already listed as deserted, when Aleš Karlík of Nežetice transferred it, along with other property, to Lidmila of Vitiněves. From that point on it was never rebuilt and slowly turned into the ruin visible today.

What did the castle look like architecturally?

Stajice was a small, simply designed keep-type castle, with one section serving as a defensive tower and the other as living quarters. Its modest scale and straightforward layout suggest it was the seat of minor nobility rather than a grand aristocratic residence.

What can visitors see on site today?

What remains today are mostly earthworks and terrain features — traces of the defensive layout, fragments of foundations, and the shape of the hill itself, which still hints at how the buildings were once arranged. It's a spot for history enthusiasts and forest walkers, a place to picture the modest fortified home that once stood here.

How do you get to the Stajice ruins?

The easiest approach is to drive to the area around Maršovice or Zderadice and continue on foot along a forest path up Stejc hill. The walk itself is short, but sturdy footwear is a good idea, since the terrain is uneven and partly wooded.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is Stajice Castle? On Stejc hill between the villages of Maršovice and Zderadice, in the Benešov district of central Bohemia.

When was the castle built? In the first half of the 14th century, likely commissioned by the knightly Stajice family — the first written mention dates to 1348.

Why did the castle decline? After armed conflicts around the turn of the 14th and 15th centuries, including its capture by mercenaries in 1406, the castle lost its importance and fell into disuse during the 15th century, appearing as abandoned by around 1531.

Can the ruins be visited today? Yes, the site is accessible on foot, though only scattered remains survive rather than an intact structure — it suits history enthusiasts and walkers more than visitors expecting a fully developed tourist attraction.