Hrad Návarov

Hrad Návarov was a rock castle strategically positioned above the meeting point of the Zlatník stream and the Kamenice river. Its design evolved over time, though it likely began as a residence without a central tower, protected instead by a strong shield wall. The oldest surviving part consists of a thick perimeter wall encircling the core area, constructed directly on a natural rock outcrop in the northern section of the site. Access to this core was probably controlled through a gate equipped with a portcullis, a heavy, vertically sliding grille; traces of the portcullis mechanism remain visible on the southern side.

Inside the main courtyard, two buildings once stood. The western building contains remnants of two vaulted rooms. One of these vaults features a pointed barrel shape, an architectural element common in medieval construction, located in the northwest corner and evidently older. A second vaulted space was added at a later stage. A large window once illuminated the upper floor of this western structure. The eastern building comprised two rooms, though the full extent of this section is not clearly known. At some point, the northern wall of the core collapsed and was replaced by a thinner version, indicating repairs or changes after structural damage.

A barbican, an outer defensive work located to the south, originally protected the core, though its walls have since disappeared. This barbican controlled entry to the castle’s core or to a broad outer ward situated on the west side of the site. Here, a platform with a bastion-like projection provided a vantage point overlooking the valley below. Along the southern side of the core runs a neck ditch, a defensive trench designed to give attackers a difficult approach. Beyond this ditch stands an outer defensive wall, which ingeniously incorporates the natural rocky terrain, and is fronted by a partially filled moat.

Following the castle’s capture in 1469, an additional outer defensive line was constructed. This new fortification also made use of natural rock formations and included two semicircular bastions reinforcing the wall at its midpoint and eastern end. Among these defenses is a large rock to the west capped by an unidentified structure. Access to this outer wall was restricted by another ditch, further complicating any assault.

Overall, the castle complex included a western palace and other buildings to the south, though detailed dimensions and information about the intended use or size of audience spaces are not preserved. The remains today comprise fragmentary walls and foundational elements, some stabilized and conserved to maintain their current state and support ongoing study.