Strádov Castle

Strádov Castle occupies a commanding position atop a steep granite promontory rising roughly 70 meters above the junction of the Chrudimka River and the Libáňský potok valley. The location’s natural defenses include nearly vertical rock faces on the north and west sides, while human-made fortifications strengthened the more accessible southeast approach where the rocky spur meets the surrounding plateau.

The castle’s layout consists of two main sections: the outer bailey and the inner bailey, each enclosed by defensive walls. The outer bailey, serving as an economic and service area, was encircled by a curtain wall and separated from the inner bailey by a deep ditch carved into the rock on the northwest side. The main gate to this outer enclosure was located on the eastern side, likely connecting to a medieval route linking Nasavrky and Svídnice.

Access to the inner bailey was gained by crossing a bridge over an inner moat from the outer yard. The shape of this core area follows the uneven outline of the rocky terrain, forming an irregular trapezoid. A large rectangular tower, measuring about 8.5 by 11 meters, guarded the main entrance. This tower, with walls surviving up to 3 to 4 meters in height, featured living spaces on its upper floors and retained the original northern entrance portal.

Adjacent to this residential tower on the west was the palas, or main hall, used for habitation and gatherings. The palas and tower were connected by walls creating a small inner courtyard. Large sections of the northern outer curtain wall remain intact, standing as high as 11 meters and founded directly onto the bedrock, highlighting the builders’ adaptation to the natural landscape.

Evidence of the outer bailey includes visible floor depressions and the vaulted foundations of cellars, marking the locations of former economic buildings. The castle’s defensive enclosure roughly encircled the rocky tip of the promontory in a near-circular line. Near the eastern gate, the outer wall formed a flank protection angle around the tower, which likely replaced an earlier round defensive tower known as a bergfried.

Surrounding the outer bailey, double moats and earthen ramparts separated the castle from the plateau. The placement of the inner structures, set back slightly southwest from the spur’s point, maximized natural protection from cliffs and slopes descending toward the rivers, contributing to the castle’s defense strategy. The entire complex lies within the bounds of the Slavická obora nature reserve, integrating the remains into a natural and historic landscape.