Kašperk Castle is one of the most atmospheric medieval ruins in the Czech part of the Šumava region — a royal fortress founded by Emperor Charles IV in 1356 to guard gold-mining operations and the ancient trade route towards Passau. Standing on a rocky ridge at around 889 metres above sea level, it offers a genuine sense of stepping back into the Middle Ages.

The castle sits within the Kašperská vrchovina Nature Park, surrounded by dense Šumava forests. The views from its twin square towers stretch across rolling wooded hills, and the landscape shifts beautifully with the seasons — fresh green in spring, golden and russet in autumn, and mysteriously silent under winter snow. The massive palace block flanked by two residential towers is instantly striking, and the ruins are well-preserved enough to fire the imagination.

• Kašperské Hory (town parking) — approximately 2.5 km to the northeast, easy to moderate walk, around 30–40 minutes on foot

• Open to visitors from April to October during designated visiting hours
• Guided tour circuits available (2023 season): 'Life in the Castle', 'Transformations of the Castle', and a special tour for children aged 6–10
• The castle is a protected cultural monument

Charles IV named the fortress 'Karlsberg' after himself — and if you look closely at the eastern tower, you will notice its outer wall has no openings at all, designed as a last-resort refuge for the garrison. The castle also starred in the popular Czech fairy-tale film 'Anděl Páně'.