Týřov

Týřov combines two connected attractions above the Berounka River in the Karlova Ves area of the Rakovník district: a 13th-century royal castle and the most valuable protected stretch of the Křivoklátsko landscape surrounding it.

Where is Týřov located?

The castle ruins stand on a rocky promontory above the confluence of the Úpořský stream and the Berounka River, at roughly 310 meters above sea level, in the cadastral territory of the village of Karlova Ves. The surrounding protected area stretches along the right bank of the Berounka and the slopes of the Úpořský stream valley, at elevations between 248 and 526 meters, also reaching into the cadastres of Skryje and Broumy.

Where does the name come from and what is the castle's history?

The castle, known in German as Angerbach, was founded by King Wenceslas I at the start of his reign — the first written mention dates to 1249. It was built as a castellan-type castle following an imported French model, making it one of the most significant and best-preserved royal castles from the era of the last Přemyslids.

Its defensive layout was elaborate: the entrance crossed a neck moat via a bridge to the first gate, then a second, narrower moat on a wooden drawbridge, through a square tower and a second gate into a rectangular lower castle. Besides the outer wall, the lower castle was reinforced with six flanking towers, while a round bergfried tower stood over the upper castle. The ruins have been protected as a cultural monument since 1965.

What is the Týřov National Nature Reserve?

The area surrounding the castle is protected as the Týřov National Nature Reserve, considered one of the most valuable and best-preserved parts of the entire Křivoklátsko protected landscape area. The reserve was established in 1984 by merging two earlier reserves, Týřovské skály-Oupoř and Týřovské tisy, both originally declared in 1933. It covers about 420.6 hectares and protects a mix of forest and non-forest habitats.

The reserve's slopes are home to roughly 400 critically endangered common yew trees, while the Úpořský stream shelters a native, critically endangered population of the noble crayfish (Astacus astacus). Like the castle itself, the reserve takes its name from the Přemyslid-era fortress ruins overlooking the Berounka valley.

What can visitors see on site?

The main draw is the authentic remains of one of the most important royal castles from the era of the last Přemyslids — surviving perimeter walls, remnants of flanking towers, and traces of the moat-and-gate defense system, along with sweeping views over the Berounka valley from the rocky spur. For nature lovers, the immediate surroundings add further value: the reserve's valuable habitats, including its old-growth yew stands.

Frequently asked questions

Who built Týřov Castle? It was founded by King Wenceslas I at the beginning of his reign, with the first written record dating from 1249.

Where exactly are the ruins located? On a rocky promontory above the confluence of the Úpořský stream and the Berounka River, in the cadastral territory of Karlova Ves, Rakovník district.

Is the area around the castle protected? Yes, since 1984 as the Týřov National Nature Reserve, and the castle itself has been a protected cultural monument since 1965.

What makes the reserve especially valuable? Around 400 old common yew trees and a population of the noble crayfish in the Úpořský stream.