The Kašperk Castle is situated in Šumava, about 3 kilometres from the town of Kašperské hory. It is the highest royal castle in Bohemia thanks to its altitude of 886 m. The castle was built by the Czech king and Roman emperor Charles IV in 1356-1361. It bore the German name Karlsberg, i.e. Charles' Castle. The castle had several functions, guarding the provincial border with Bavaria, protecting the gold-bearing area around the Kašperské Hory and securing the trade route of the Golden Trail.

Among the important holders were, for example, Petr Zmrzlík of Svojšín or Zdeněk of Šternberk, who was instrumental in extending the fortifications to include the outpost of Pustý hrádek, the former outpost of Kašperk. Today it functions mainly as a lookout point with a view of the castle and the surrounding Šumava countryside.

In 1616, the already abandoned and dilapidated castle was sold to the town of Kašperské Hory. The town owns and operates the castle to this day.

The castle can be reached on foot from Kašperské Hory, the distance is about 3 km. By car, you can get to the castle parking lot České domky, from there there is about 1.5 km long path to the castle.

During opening hours, the entrance to the courtyard is free. There is a fee for guided tours, a guided tour from the eastern tower and a children's interactive tour for schools. Leashed dogs are allowed in the courtyard and on the tour circuits.

Tip for families with children:

A trip to Kašperk can also be done with a stroller. It is easiest to use the castle parking lot at Český Domky, 1.5 km from the castle. According to the official information, the stroller will get to the courtyard. However, the castle itself is not wheelchair accessible, so it is a good idea to take into account that tours of the interiors and towers are more suitable without a pram.