Houska Castle, Gothic and Renaissance castle in Blatce, Czech Republic
Houska Castle is an early Gothic castle converted into a château in the village of Houska, part of Blatce in Česká Lípa District, Liberec Region. It stands on a steep rocky cliff within the Kokořínsko protected landscape area, about 47 km north of Prague. Its Gothic palace walls survive up to the second floor, and the chapel and Green Chamber keep their medieval paintings.
King Ottokar II of Bohemia ordered construction between 1253 and 1278 to manage royal estates in northern Bohemia. Later renovations added Renaissance architecture to the original Gothic design.
The chapel holds medieval wall paintings showing biblical scenes and saints. The green chamber displays Gothic decoration with patterns and figures from the building's early period.
Visits take place from April through October, with guided tours providing access to interior rooms. Parking is available near the entrance at the edge of the forest.
No external defenses or natural water source were provided, so an underground cistern collecting rainwater was the only supply. This unusual design sets the structure apart from other fortresses of the period.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 92,288 contributors worldwide.
