Bezděz: Castle, Church Art and Nature

Bezděz brings together Bezděz Castle and its history, church art, a protected natural area, and hiking and cycling trails. For your travel plans, you can choose from different focuses: medieval history, sacred art, or exploring the landscape on foot. If you are looking for a hotel, you can start by considering which of these interests you want to shape your stay. Route length, starting point and seasonal visitor services are practical points to consider when planning.

Bezděz Castle: History and Tour

Bezděz Castle was founded in 1264 by King Přemysl Otakar II. In January 1279, Václav and Queen Kunhuta were brought to the castle as prisoners. The basic self-guided tour includes the castle chapel, the Royal Palace, the Burgrave’s Palace and the fief courtyard in the second castle courtyard. Visitor services are seasonal; before you travel, check whether the tour is available on your chosen date.

Church Art in Bezděz

The main altar in the Church of St. Giles in Bezděz is a Rococo altar structure featuring an image of Saint Giles and rich sculptural and figurative ornamentation. It is considered a valuable example of craftsmanship from the third quarter of the 18th century. A copy of the Black Madonna of Montserrat is in the parish church of Bezděz.

Nature Reserve and Route to the Castle

The Velký a Malý Bezděz National Nature Reserve is a geomorphologically unique complex of two volcanic hills made of sodalite phonolite. Its habitats include natural woodland and rocky steppe communities. They provide a home for numerous rare and endangered plant and animal species, including the Rosalia longicorn (Rosalia alpina).

The stony, rocky path to the castle passes through the nature reserve; cycling is prohibited there. Trail conditions may change, so it is advisable to check the current conditions before setting out.

Hiking Trails and Cycling Route

The classic red hiking trail runs 13 km from Bělá pod Bezdězem to Bezděz Castle. From the junction near the castle, the Máchova stezka continues towards Houska Castle for 10 km. The distances vary depending on the starting point and direction. The main cycling route 0060 runs via Bělá pod Bezdězem, Plužná, Březinka and Valdštejnsko to Bezděz; its stated length is 19 km. Signposting and trail conditions may change, so check them before your trip.

Short Walk and Getting Your Bearings in the Village

In the vicinity of Bezděz, a scenic path about 200 m long leads to a nearby gorge with sandstone formations. At approximately 200 m, it is much shorter than the 13 km hiking trail and the 10 km Máchova stezka—another route option to consider when planning.

The tourist information centre, operating since 2007, provides visitors to the village and castle with maps, promotional materials and other information. If you are driving to the castle, you can park directly in Bezděz; there are two car parks in the village. Check the current parking situation before your trip.

Discover more destinations: Okna, Marenice, Cvikov, Kozly U České Lípy, Česká Lípa, Radeč, Kamenický Šenov, Chlum U Dubé

For the broader travel overview: Česká Lípa District.