Fredevald, also known as Pustý zámek (the Deserted Castle), is a striking medieval ruin perched atop a massive rock outcrop above the Kamenice river valley. This atmospheric site rewards visitors with a genuine sense of stepping back into a turbulent medieval past.

Built in the second half of the 14th century, the castle once guarded an important trade route through the Lužické hory (Lusatian Mountains). Its history is marked by conflict — in the 1430s it served as a base for raids on Lusatian towns, which eventually led to its capture and destruction by allied town forces in 1440. Today only fragments of the walls remain, fused into the rocky outcrop and surrounded by forest. The site feels wild and evocative year-round: lush greenery in summer, mist drifting through the valley in autumn, and a stark, fairy-tale silhouette in winter when the rock stands bare against the sky.

How to get there

• From Česká Kamenice - marked trail, approx. 3 km, easy to moderate difficulty
• Access paths also lead through the surrounding Pustý zámek nature reserve

Practical information

• The ruins are protected as a cultural monument
• The site lies within the Pustý zámek nature reserve, established in 1963
• A viewing platform was built on the summit in 1890 by the Mountain Association of Česká Kamenice

In the 1430s, the knight-robber Mikeš Pancíř of Smojno used the castle as a stronghold for his raids, adding a colorful chapter of medieval banditry to this quiet ruin's story.