Zvířetice Castle

Zvířetice Castle is the picturesque ruin of a Gothic-turned-Renaissance stronghold rising above the village of Podhradí, roughly two kilometres southwest of Bakov nad Jizerou. Perched at about 250 metres above sea level directly over the Jizera river valley, the site has been protected as a cultural monument since 1967.

Who built the castle above the Jizera river?

The stronghold was founded in the early 14th century by Zdislav z Lemberka, one of the sons of Havel z Lemberka, a powerful nobleman also behind Lemberk Castle and several monasteries and towns in northern Bohemia, including Jablonné v Podještědí and Český Dub. Zdislav and his descendants initially used the Lemberk name themselves, but in time the family became known as the lords of Zvířetice. They held the castle continuously until 1504.

How did a Gothic fortress become a Renaissance chateau?

After the lords of Zvířetice, the estate briefly passed to Václav Sezima z Ústí before the Vartenberk family took it over in 1528. Under their ownership, the once purely defensive castle was gradually reshaped into a Renaissance chateau, reflecting the shift among Bohemian nobility of that era toward more comfortable, representative residences rather than fortified strongholds.

Why did the chateau end up abandoned?

Two fires sealed the building's fate. The first, in 1693, was serious enough to require repairs, and the chateau continued to be used afterward. The second fire, in 1720, caused far greater damage and led to the estate being abandoned for good, with its administration relocated to the former Cistercian monastery at Hradiště nad Jizerou. Left empty, the building deteriorated quickly, and local residents spent years dismantling its walls to reuse the stone as building material elsewhere.

What survives on site today?

Sections of the defensive walls remain, along with the ruin's most recognisable feature: a cylindrical tower roughly 42 metres tall. Because of fire damage, the very top of the tower is closed to visitors, but its partially preserved structure still conveys the scale of the original stronghold and its dominant position above the Jizera valley. On clear days, the surroundings offer views toward Bezděz, Ještěd and Kozákov, three of the landmark hills of the Bohemian Paradise region.

Can visitors explore the ruins on their own?

The ruins are freely accessible without a guide. At the foot of the castle, in the village of Podhradí, a tourist information point opened in 2015, funded through an EU grant. The same project financed a new bridge leading to the ruins and an external staircase up to the castle tower. Around the information centre and its car park, a nature trail with seven themed stops was also laid out, leading visitors toward the castle hill.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is Zvířetice Castle located? The ruins stand above the village of Podhradí, about two kilometres southwest of Bakov nad Jizerou, at roughly 250 metres above sea level overlooking the Jizera valley.

Who founded the castle? It was founded in the early 14th century by Zdislav z Lemberka, son of Havel z Lemberka. His descendants, later known as the lords of Zvířetice, owned it until 1504.

Why is the castle a ruin today? A fire in 1693 was repaired, but a second, far more destructive fire in 1720 led to the chateau being permanently abandoned, with the estate's administration moving to the monastery at Hradiště nad Jizerou.

Can you climb the castle tower? The tower is about 42 metres tall, but its uppermost section has been closed since the fires. The lower, partially preserved structure still gives a strong sense of the original building's scale.

Is there an entrance fee for the ruins? The ruins themselves are freely accessible. A tourist information point opened in Podhradí in 2015, alongside a new bridge, an external staircase to the tower, and a seven-stop nature trail.