Adršpach, Gothic castle ruin in Dolní Adršpach, Czech Republic

Adršpach is a ruined Gothic castle on the flat top of Zámecký vrch at 681 m, about 2 km west of Adršpach village. Its three-part layout has a large outer bailey, a residential core against two rock formations, and an eastern core reached by a corridor cut into the rock; low wall fragments and rock-cut cellars remain.

Adršpach was probably founded by King John of Luxembourg in the 1320s or 1330s, and is first documented in 1348 in the Majestas Carolina. In 1430, during the Hussite Wars, a Hussite garrison seized the Catholic castle; it returned to the lords of Dubá in 1436. Its garrison raided Silesia, so in 1447 Silesian and Lusatian towns bought it for 900 Hungarian gold guilders and had it demolished.

The name comes from the personal name Eberhart, shortened to Eber, which first named the Ebersbach stream; records show forms such as Ebrspach (1348) and Adrspach (1393). The castle was held jointly by several owners in the 15th century, possibly as a Ganerbenburg, and its garrison raided Silesia.

The ruin is accessible via marked pathways that wind through hilly terrain west of Broumov in the Náchod district. Visitors should prepare for uneven ground and steep sections, so sturdy footwear is recommended.

In the 15th century several Silesian towns jointly purchased and demolished this fortress to remove it as a base for raiders. This unusual collective action reveals how vital the site had become for attacks in the region.