Oparno Castle, Castle ruin in Oparno, Czech Republic

Oparno Castle is a Gothic castle ruin perched on a hilltop in Oparno, Czech Republic, built from stone with pointed arches typical of medieval construction. What remains includes sections of fortification walls and basement chambers that give a sense of how large the original structure once was.

Smil of Vchynice founded the castle before 1344, and in 1354 he styled himself as seated at Oparno. His descendants held it until the early 16th century, when the estate was split: one half went to Albrecht Kyšperský of Vřesovice, the other to the Bořitové of Martinice. By 1536, when the Martinice property was divided, the castle was recorded as deserted.

The castle's name comes from the village of Oparno, whose lords Smil of Vchynice and his descendants held the site until the early 16th century. The German name Wopparn appears in older sources. Visitors today see only the curtain wall and the remains of the inner buildings.

The site is reached by marked hiking trails, and sturdy footwear is recommended since the stone surfaces are uneven throughout. The walk up takes a while, so leave enough time if you plan to combine the visit with other stops nearby.

The castle belongs to the rare type without a bergfried or residential tower: the defensive role was carried entirely by the massive battlemented curtain wall. The rectangular core, about 40 × 20 metres with rounded corners, is still largely enclosed by this wall, and the vaulted lower level of the palace survives.