Velhartice Castle and Chateau is located in the foothills of the Šumava Mountains between Klatovy and Sušice on a rocky promontory above the valley of the Ostružné River.

The most striking part of the castle is the unique stone bridge that connects the Paradise Palace with the Putna defence tower. The bridge, which also served a defensive function, is 32 metres long, 3 metres wide and almost 10 metres high. It has four broken arches and stands on massive cylindrical pillars.

The stone bridge is a part of the Gothic part of the castle, together with the Paradise Palace and the Putna Tower it shows the oldest form of the castle and its defensive design. As it is usually the case with castles, in the Renaissance the castle ceased to meet the needs of the nobility and was enlarged to include the castle part. Visitors can choose between the Gothic and Renaissance circuit. The third guided tour will introduce visitors to the story of the secret transport of the crown jewels and their storage in Velhartice.

Without a guide, you can also explore the outdoor area with courtyards, viewpoints and the former castle brewery, which is now an interactive exhibition.

In the forecourt, you can visit the folk architecture museum, which shows buildings transported from the Posumava region. The exteriors of the open-air museum are freely accessible without an entrance fee.

After visiting the castle, you can follow the Velhartice nature trail to Jan Werich's cottage.

Tip for families with children:

The parking lot is about 300 meters from the castle, the path from the castle is wheelchair accessible. The outdoor areas are especially suitable for strollers. A changing table is available in the castle restaurant.

The castle's restaurant is available in the castle's parking lot: