Radkov u Vítkova, (Opava dist., Moravian-Silesian Region

This vast ruin of a medieval castle is situated in the valley of the Moravice River in a unique natural reserve. The first written record of the castle stems from 1377; after the owners had changed for a number of times, it was deserted in the course of the 18th century, fell in disrepair, and in 1789, it was inhabited only by a single eremite. Originally, the castle consisted of an oval upper ward protected by a curtain wall. The south part of the upper ward contained residential apartments, from which only relics of the walls are preserved now. Among the other defensive structures are a zwinger wall, well preserved in the east, and a moat with a well carved into the rocks. Some of the remains stem from a Renaissance reconstruction. In 2011, the castle area was revitalized and panels informing about the history, building development and archaeological finds at the castle were installed.

References: Plaček 1996; Kouřil – Prix – Wihoda 2000.

Navigation point: N 49°48‘20.87“, E 17°46‘25.11“.