Švamberk Castle

Švamberk Castle, also known as Krasíkov, is a Gothic castle ruin standing on Krasíkov hill near the village of Kokašice, in the Tachov district of the Plzeň Region in the Czech Republic. For most of its history the castle was the seat of the Lords of Švamberk, the family that gave the site its name, and today it survives only as a ruin open to visitors.

Where is Švamberk Castle located?

The ruins sit on top of Krasíkov hill, 636 metres above sea level, overlooking the valley of the Hadovka stream. The nearest larger settlement is Kokašice, and the hill lies roughly three kilometres west of the spa town of Konstantinovy Lázně, within the Tachov district of the Plzeň Region. The site's coordinates are approximately 49.88 N, 12.93 E. The surrounding area belongs to the Český les (Bohemian Forest) range, popular with hikers and cyclists for its quiet, wooded trails.

Who built the castle and who owned it?

The castle was founded in the second half of the 13th century by the Lords of Švamberk, an aristocratic family that kept possession of it for almost its entire existence, apart from a short interval between 1544 and 1569 when it passed into other hands. The family's name became attached to both the castle and the hill on which it stands. For generations the castle served as the family seat and a symbol of the Švamberks' standing in the region.

What happened to the castle over the centuries?

In 1421, during the Hussite Wars, the castle was besieged and captured by Hussite forces - a fate shared by many fortified noble residences in Bohemia during that turbulent period. Its next major ordeal came during the Thirty Years' War: in 1646 Swedish troops, roughly 300 cavalry strong, occupied the site and used it as a base for raiding the surrounding countryside. The castle never fully recovered from this period and had fallen into an abandoned ruin by the end of the Thirty Years' War.

What can visitors see there today?

Alongside the castle ruins, the hill also holds the Chapel of St Mary Magdalene, accompanied by a small bell tower, a spot that still draws both tourists and local residents. In 2012, a steel viewing platform was installed on the remains of one of the castle towers, giving visitors a view over the surrounding hills of the Český les area. The whole site has been protected as a cultural monument since 1964, which has helped keep the ruins in a condition that visitors can still explore.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is Švamberk Castle? It stands on Krasíkov hill, about three kilometres west of Konstantinovy Lázně, near the village of Kokašice, in the Tachov district of the Plzeň Region, Czech Republic.

Are Švamberk and Krasíkov the same castle? Yes. Krasíkov is the name of the hill on which the castle stands, and it is often used as an alternative name for the same ruin.

When was the castle built? It was founded in the second half of the 13th century by the Lords of Švamberk, who held it for nearly all of its history.

Is there a viewing tower at the site? Yes - a steel observation platform was built in 2012 on the remains of one of the castle's towers and is open to visitors.

What other historic structure stands on the hill besides the castle ruins? The Chapel of St Mary Magdalene, with a small bell tower, stands nearby on the same hill.