Landštejn Castle, one of the most impressive and best-preserved castle ruins in the Czech Republic, hides in the deep forests of Czech Canada, a picturesque region around Jindřichův Hradec. The castle was built in the 13th century, and to this day you can still see remnants of the original Romanesque structure and the Gothic palace around the courtyard. Landštejn Castle is a beautiful place for a day trip that you can easily combine with visits to other attractions in the region.
How to Get to Landštejn
By Bus
There is a bus stop right next to the castle called Staré město pod Landštejnem, Landštejn, served several times a day by bus no. 340030 from Jindřichův Hradec or from Slavonice.
By Car
If you’re driving from Prague, the best route is via the D3 motorway. Take exit 100 towards Jindřichův Hradec, drive through the town and continue towards Nová Bystřice — from there it’s just a short drive to the castle. If you’re coming from abroad, the nearest major airports are Prague (about 2.5 hours) and Vienna (about 2 hours).
On Foot or by Bike
Following the red-marked trail, you can reach Landštejn either from Staré Město pod Landštejnem (3 km) or from Slavonice (9 km). If you also plan to visit Český Rudolec Chateau, you can combine both sights into one full-day trip, as a 9 km long blue hiking trail connects the two.
Admission and Opening Hours
Opening Hours
Opening hours vary throughout the year. During summer, the castle is open almost every day from 9:00 to 16:30. You cannot enter outside visiting hours, so make sure to check the official website before your visit to confirm it will be open.
Admission Fees
There are no guided tours available at the castle — you explore it freely on your own. You only pay for entry to the castle grounds.
- Adults: 90 CZK (approx. €3.60)
- Children, youth, and students: 60 CZK (approx. €2.40)
- Family ticket: 230 CZK (approx. €9.20)
For more information about discounted or free admission, read more here.
History of Landštejn
According to the local castellan, Landštejn Castle is the only Romanesque-style castle in Europe that has survived to the present day. The construction of the first structures dates back to the 12th century, but unfortunately no sources have been found that would describe the reason, appearance, or exact date of the original construction.
In the 16th century, Landštejn became one of the largest castles in the territory of the then Czech lands. Due to a turbulent history, it changed owners many times and, as a result, gradually fell into disrepair over a period of 150 years.
In 1771, the castle was struck by lightning, burned down, and was subsequently abandoned until the 1960s. That’s when Karel Veselý appeared on the scene.
Veselý wanted to save the castle, and although he had no education or experience in archaeological work, he and his friends set about clearing the interior of the castle and then carried out amateur repairs.
Partly because of these unprofessional interventions, restoration work has been ongoing since 2019 and is expected to continue for some time.
Interesting Facts About Landštejn Castle
Almost no interior rooms or furnishings have survived in the castle, but the entire grounds were — and still are — full of archaeological finds that tell the story of the castle’s history.
Because there were no funds to clean out the local well in the 1960s, it wasn’t explored until relatively recently. The well had been filled in during the Renaissance period, and no one had looked inside since.
At the bottom of the well, archaeologists discovered sixty stone cannonballs from the time when the castle was besieged by the Hussites. The cannonballs are displayed just past the first gate!
Accommodation Nearby
We assume you’re not just making a quick stop in Czech Canada, so we’ve selected some great accommodation options from which you can explore the entire region with ease. You can also search for more options on Booking.com.
[lgc_column grid=”33″ tablet_grid=”33″ mobile_grid=”100″ last=”false”]
Zámecký Penzion Český Rudolec
A guesthouse with a view of Český Rudolec Chateau. They have an indoor pool and excellent breakfasts. A great place to stay while exploring Czech Canada.
[/lgc_column] [lgc_column grid=”33″ tablet_grid=”33″ mobile_grid=”100″ last=”false”]Accommodation at Giordanů
A beautiful historic house, cosy rooms, a friendly host, and a great location in the town centre. Highly recommended for history lovers.
[/lgc_column] [lgc_column grid=”33″ tablet_grid=”33″ mobile_grid=”100″ last=”true”]Hotel Telč in the Centre of Telč
“The staff were kind, friendly, helpful, and very communicative. The rooms were beautifully renovated. Breakfast was included and served as a generous buffet.”
[/lgc_column]Trip Tips Near Landštejn
Devil’s Backside Rock Formation
About 30 minutes by car from Landštejn, hidden in the forests, you’ll find a curious rock called Ďáblova prdel (literally “Devil’s Backside”), shaped — as you might guess — like a bottom. It’s one of the most striking natural formations in the Czech Canada nature park. You can combine the visit with a climb up to the U Jakuba Lookout Tower.
Nová Bystřice Chateau
This originally Gothic castle, later rebuilt into a four-wing Renaissance chateau, is one of the few heritage sites in the Czech Republic still in private hands. The custodians are gradually restoring it and opening it to the public. You must book a tour of Nová Bystřice Chateau in advance.
Dačice Chateau
There are actually two chateaux in Dačice — we recommend visiting the so-called New Chateau. It houses two unique libraries with original furnishings from the 1830s! The chateau features Empire-style interiors and also serves as the town museum.
Český Rudolec Chateau
The romantic neo-Gothic Český Rudolec Chateau was built on the ruins of an older fortress in 1860 but spent many years in a state of complete disrepair. Now, dedicated volunteers have taken the chateau — nicknamed the “Little Hluboká” — under their wing and are gradually restoring it.
Tips and Tricks for Your Vacation
Don’t Overpay for Flights
Search for flights on Kayak. It’s our favorite search engine because it scans the websites of all airlines and always finds the cheapest connection.
Book Your Accommodation Smartly
The best experiences we’ve had when looking for accommodation (from Alaska to Morocco) are with Booking.com, where hotels, apartments, and entire houses are usually the cheapest and most widely available.
Don’t Forget Travel Insurance
Good travel insurance will protect you against illness, accidents, theft, or flight cancellations. We’ve had a few hospital visits abroad, so we know how important it is to have proper insurance arranged.
Where we insure ourselves: SafetyWing (best for everyone) and TrueTraveller (for extra-long trips).
Why don’t we recommend any Czech insurance company? Because they have too many restrictions. They set limits on the number of days abroad, travel insurance via a credit card often requires you to pay medical expenses only with that card, and they frequently limit the number of returns to the Czech Republic.
Find the Best Experiences
Get Your Guide is a huge online marketplace where you can book guided walks, trips, skip-the-line tickets, tours, and much more. We always find some extra fun there!
