Helfenburk Castle
The ruins of a Gothic castle from the 14th century, hidden in the woods between Bavorov and Volyně.
Accessibility
March to October (according to current schedule)
Entrance fee
Yes, according to the current price list
How to get there
Parking: Available below the castle
Additional information
The Castle’s History
On May 21, 1355, Emperor Charles IV signed a decree allowing four brothers from the Rosenberg family to build a fortified castle on Malošín Hill – as a reward for their assistance in suppressing the rebellion in Pisa, Italy. The brothers did not delay, and by 1357, Jaroslav Měřička of Vitějovice was appointed the first castellan of Helfenburk.
Fourteen years later, another castellan, Buzek of Lhota, wrote to the lord in Český Krumlov to report the completion of the castle palace.
Construction did not stop in the 14th century, however – building work continued into the 15th and even the first half of the 16th century.
The Castle’s Fate
By 1580, the castle was no longer used for its original purpose but continued to serve as an administrative center. In 1593, Peter Wok of Rosenberg sold the castle along with the surrounding estate to the town of Prachatice.
After the Battle of White Mountain, the property was confiscated by Emperor Ferdinand II due to the town’s involvement in the Estates' Uprising and granted to his favorite, Johann Ulrich von Eggenberg. After the Eggenberg family died out in 1717, the castle passed to the Schwarzenberg family.
In 1922, the estate was nationalized as part of a land reform and transferred to the Třeboň State Forests, which leased it to the Czech Tourist Club. In the 1920s, the site was opened to the public.
After 1945, Helfenburk was included among the state-owned castles and châteaux of Czechoslovakia.
In the 1990s, under a municipal property transfer law, it became the property of the town of Bavorov, which continues to maintain and restore it to this day.
Fun fact!
Visitors can arrange to camp overnight in the castle courtyard under their own shelter, provided they follow the designated rules.
Weddings
Helfenburk Castle is also a popular site for wedding ceremonies. For reservations, contact the Bavorov Town Hall:
📞 +420 383 390 202
Parking
Free parking is available on a meadow approximately 1 km below the castle. A well-maintained asphalt forest road leads up to the site.
💡 Note: Visitors with reduced mobility can drive up to the castle, but the terrain inside the castle grounds is uneven – assistance is recommended.
