Zkamenělý Zámek

Svratka, Czechia, Czech Republic (Czechia)

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Zkamenělý Zámek, also known as Starý Karlštejn, is an archaeological site near Svratka in Czechia, notable for its rock formations and historical ruins. It has been inhabited since the Neolithic period and features remnants of a hillfort from the Hallstatt era and early Middle Ages.

Around the 13th to 14th centuries, a small wooden castle stood here, built among several large rock blocks arranged in a horseshoe shape, forming a courtyard approximately 40 by 16 meters. The site is protected as a cultural monument and natural reserve, with visible defensive earthworks such as double ditches and ramparts. Archaeological finds from the site, including pottery shards and tools, are preserved in local museums.

The area is accessible by marked hiking trails and known for its scenic rocky landscape, which resembles a petrified castle, giving the site its name.