Staré Hrady Castle

Staré Hrady Castle stands in the village of Staré Hrady in the Czech Republic, in the Bohemian Paradise region south of Jičín, close to the village of Libáň.

How old is the castle and what shaped its history?

The earliest written record of the stronghold dates back to 1340, appearing in the will of Arnošt of Staré Hrady, who left the fortress along with its surrounding villages and land to his wife Adlička. Built originally as a Gothic castle, the complex later gained a Renaissance residential wing and outer bailey buildings, giving it the layered look it has today. In the 17th century the estate passed to Albrecht von Wallenstein, the celebrated general of the Thirty Years' War, who purchased Staré Hrady in 1628 — a chapter that ties the castle to one of the best-known figures of early modern Czech history.

What survives from the medieval residence?

Because the site sits somewhere between a castle and a fortified manor in architectural terms, only part of its medieval core remains intact: the palace building in the western wing and the chapel in the first courtyard. The rest of the complex went through repeated rebuilding over the centuries, so what visitors see today is a mix of Gothic foundations overlaid with Renaissance and later additions.

What is there to see on a visit?

The castle reopened to the public in 2008 and now runs several themed tour routes. One of them focuses on everyday life under Emperor Franz Joseph I, displaying hundreds of objects that recreate how townspeople, commoners and nobility lived at the height of the Habsburg monarchy. Rather than just showing off period rooms, this route puts the interiors in the context of the era they belonged to.

Families with children have a dedicated set of attractions: several fairy-tale trails guided by storybook characters wind through the rooms and passages. Along the way, hundreds of figures — dragons, princesses, knights, giants, devils, water sprites, goblins and witches — turn a straightforward historical tour into something closer to a walk through a fairy tale, which makes the site popular with younger visitors as much as with history enthusiasts.

Where exactly is the castle located?

Staré Hrady lies in the Bohemian Paradise (Český ráj), a scenic area famed for its sandstone rock formations and rock castles, south of the town of Jičín and near the village of Libáň. Its position makes it a convenient stop when exploring the wider region's other landmarks.

Frequently asked questions

When was Staré Hrady Castle first mentioned? The first documented reference comes from 1340, in the will through which Arnošt of Staré Hrady passed the fortress to his wife Adlička.

What is the connection between the castle and Albrecht von Wallenstein? Wallenstein, one of the most famous commanders of the Thirty Years' War, bought the estate in 1628, making that period one of the most notable chapters in its history.

What makes the castle appealing for families? Several fairy-tale tour routes lead children through the rooms, populated with figures of dragons, knights, water sprites and other legendary characters.

Since when has the castle been open to visitors? It reopened to the public in 2008 and has since operated with multiple themed routes, including a historical one and the fairy-tale trails for children.