Strádov

Strádov is the ruin of a medieval castle perched on a rocky red-granite outcrop above the Chrudimka River valley, near the hamlet of Libáň, in the cadastral territory of Ochoz near Nasavrky, in the Chrudim district of the Pardubice Region. Little survives of the original stronghold beyond foundations and fragments of walls, but its elevated position over the river still leaves a strong impression on visitors.

How to get there?

The ruin stands within what used to be the Slavice game reserve, a short distance from Chrudim and just a few kilometers from Nasavrky. Until 2013 the area was subject to restricted access, but the ruins now lie outside the reserve's boundaries and are freely open to the public. Visitors can reach the site on foot from the cemetery in nearby Práčov or from a mill near Libáň — both approach routes pass through the forest that has since reclaimed the old castle hill.

What will you see?

The earliest written record of the castle dates to 1374, when Jaroš Lacembok of Strádov appears as patron of the church and monastery in nearby Práčov. By 1382 the estate had passed to his son, Jindřich Lacembok of Strádov. Ownership changed hands several more times over the following decades — among the names recorded are Bleh of Lipka, Aleš of Bítovany, Beneš of Křivý, and Jan of Lipka, followed from 1444 by Jan Slon of Seslavice. In the spring of 1421, Hussite forces captured the monastery at Práčov, and historians believe they seized Strádov itself around the same time. By the mid-15th century the stronghold had fallen into decline and was recorded as abandoned, with administration of the estate shifting to nearby Nasavrky.

Today the site preserves the moats that once encircled the castle, the foundation walls of its outer fortifications, and the outer walls of a tower still standing 3 to 4 meters high, complete with its original entrance portal. Only the foundations remain of the former palace building, while the outbuildings in the outer bailey have left behind little more than shallow depressions in the ground and the remnants of a vaulted cellar. The whole area is now heavily overgrown with forest, giving the ruin a wild, picturesque character.

A protected ruin

Strádov has been listed as a cultural monument since 1964, a status that safeguards what remains of the stronghold from further deterioration. Despite this protected status, the site has no admission fee or fixed visiting hours — visitors are free to explore the ruins at any time, often combining the walk with a longer hike through the Chrudimka valley.

When to visit?

Since Strádov is an open-air ruin surrounded by forest with no tourist infrastructure on site, the best time to visit is spring, summer, or early autumn, when the forest paths leading up to it are dry and easy to walk. It works well as part of a longer hiking or cycling route through the Chrudimka valley, pairing the ruins with river views and the surrounding hills of the Železné hory (Iron Mountains) range.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is Strádov castle located? On a rocky outcrop above the Chrudimka River valley, near the hamlet of Libáň, in the cadastral territory of Ochoz near Nasavrky, in the Chrudim district.

When was the castle built? The first written mention dates to 1374, when it was owned by Jaroš Lacembok of Strádov, though the castle itself may have been founded somewhat earlier, in the first half of the 14th century.

Why did the castle fall into ruin? Its decline is linked to events of the Hussite wars in the early 1420s, and by the mid-15th century the stronghold was already being recorded as abandoned.

What can visitors see there today? Surviving moats, the foundation walls of the fortifications, tower walls standing 3 to 4 meters high with their original entrance portal, and the remains of a vaulted cellar from the outer bailey's outbuildings.

Is there an entrance fee? No — since 2013 the ruins have lain outside the former game reserve and are freely accessible at no charge.