Rokštejn Castle

Czechia, Czech Republic (Czechia)

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Rokštejn Castle is a historic 13th-century castle ruin located near Brtnice in the Vysočina Region of the Czech Republic.

Founded around the 1280s, it is one of the oldest castles in Moravia and was originally built as a strategic guard post along an important trade route. The castle evolved architecturally from Romanesque to Gothic styles and was expanded into a Renaissance hunting lodge in the 16th century by the Lords of Hradec.

It featured a distinctive heptagonal Gothic tower, which remains a dominant attraction today, standing 48 meters tall and accessible to visitors for panoramic views of the surrounding countryside. The castle was damaged and abandoned following conflicts during the Hussite Wars and later the Bohemian-Hungarian War in the 15th century. 

Extensive archaeological excavations have been conducted since the 1980s, revealing various parts of the castle including palaces, defensive walls, and farm buildings. Today, the ruins are open year-round, offering visitors a glimpse into medieval life and historical regional power struggles, with guided tours during summer months that highlight the castle’s history and connection to forestry and hunting traditions.