Vildštejn is one of the oldest castles in Bohemia, rising around the year 1200 on a rocky spur above the Sázek stream in the town of Skalná. It's a place where Romanesque origins blend with later Gothic and Renaissance touches, while a Baroque-classicist mansion from the late 18th century sits in the outer bailey.

The castle makes a striking impression, perched on its stone promontory that was once encircled by an artificial lake for defense. Today the surroundings are a quiet corner of western Bohemia, perfect for a relaxed day trip combined with sightseeing. Spring and summer bring lush greenery around the walls, autumn adds warm colors to the scene, and winter gives the rugged stone structure an even more medieval feel.

How to get there

• Skalná town center — the castle sits right in town, a few minutes' walk from parking, easy route
• Accessible by car or bike via local roads in the Cheb region, well signposted destination

Practical information

• Open to visitors since 2001
• Ground floor houses the Hodovna restaurant with traditional Czech cuisine and homemade sausages in two knights' halls
• The Romanesque chapel holds the remains of a woman found bricked into a chimney shaft in 1987
• First floor features a pseudo-Romanesque hall used for weddings, conferences and cultural events
• The entire second floor is dedicated to a firefighting museum with numerous historic exhibits
• Privately owned since 1999, thoroughly restored starting in 1985

The legend of the woman bricked into the chimney still intrigues visitors today — her remains now rest in the castle's original Romanesque chapel, a silent witness to over 800 years of history.