The ruined castle of Pětipsy is a fascinating stop for anyone who loves layered history and atmospheric ruins slowly coming back to life. What began as a medieval water fortress grew into a Renaissance chateau and later a Baroque manor of the Thun family - today it stands as a striking ruin undergoing careful restoration.

Set in the quiet village of Pětipsy, about nine kilometers southeast of Kadaň, the site sits amid the gentle rural landscape of the Chomutov district. It's a peaceful place, far from crowds, where thick 1.8-meter-wide walls still hint at its 14th-century origins. In autumn mist or winter frost the ruin takes on a particularly evocative mood, while summer greenery softens its weathered stone.

How to get there

• Kadaň - follow the local road southeast, about 9 km, easy route, accessible by car
• Pětipsy village - the castle stands right in the village center, a convenient stop for hikers and cyclists exploring the Kadaň area

Practical information

• Protected as a cultural monument since 1963
• Regularly open to visitors since August 3, 2024
• Exhibition dedicated to the Hodek family and Friedrich of Egerberk, founder of the original fortress
• Ongoing reconstruction of the Gothic section led by the Via Levamente association

An interesting detail: the association that bought the ruin in 2012 plans to open a museum devoted to the history of Samo's Empire inside the castle, a fitting continuation of this site's long and layered story.