Jezdec is a picturesque ruin of a rock castle perched on a granite spur above the Černá Nisa river, overlooking Kateřinské údolí on the northern edge of Liberec's Ruprechtice district. It's a great spot for anyone who enjoys combining a short walk with a bit of history and a nice view – today, instead of walls, you'll mostly find rock ribs and notches left by the vanished wooden structure.

The rocky spur is separated from the rest of the ridge by a rampart and a moat on its southern side, surrounded by the typical landscape of the Jizera Mountains – granite outcrops, forests, and steep slopes dropping toward the valley. In summer, the site is shaded by greenery; in autumn, it glows with colorful foliage; and in winter, frost-covered rocks give it a rugged charm. Today Jezdec serves mainly as a lookout point over the surrounding hills and valley.

How to get there

• From Ruprechtice (Liberec) – yellow trail, short approach, easy difficulty

According to legend, a robber knight once hid out at this rock castle after being captured following the Hussite wars by the Biberstein family, and the name Jezdec (meaning 'rider') comes from a tale of a horse that leapt into the depths to save the robbers' leader, leaving a hoofprint in the rock. A secret passage was also said to lead from the castle all the way to house No. 1 in Liberec.