Zbořený Kostelec

The "Demolished Kostelec" — a 13th-century royal castle above the Sázava, besieged and razed in 1467, with siege earthworks still visible and a fine view into the river valley.

Kostelec nad Sázavou was founded at the end of the 13th century, most likely under Václav II, to watch the land route south; its name today — Zbořený Kostelec, the Demolished Kostelec — records how it ended. Held against King Jiří of Poděbrady, it was besieged and razed in 1467 and never rebuilt. The ruin keeps the shape of the core with three wings, gates, moat and outer wall, and — a rarity — the siege positions of its attackers are still traceable on the ground in front of it. The rock platform above the right bank of the Sázava gives the best river view of this stretch of the valley.