Czech Republic Guide
South Moravia
Pernštejn
Opening time: July & Aug Tues– Sun 9am– noon & 1–5pm; May, June & Sept closes 4pm; April & Oct Sat & Sun 9am– noon & 1–3pm
Price: 80Kč
The Gothic stronghold of Pernštejn, a picture-perfect medieval castle, is one of the most popular, and easiest day-trips from Brno; the picturesque train journey up the Svratka Valley to the nearest station, NEDVĔDICE, takes just over an hour. From the platform, the castle is visible to the west; to get there follow the yellow-marked track. Beyond its series of outer defences, the hrad is a truly dramatic sight, with kestrels circling the dizzying sheer walls. Originally built in the thirteenth century, it has been left a jumble of unpredictable angles and extras from various reconstructions, including a death-defying covered wooden bridge that spans the castle's main keeps. There are four guided tours: trasa A is the standard hour-long tour; trasa B, twenty minutes longer, takes in the nineteenth-century period interiors; trasa C, also twenty minutes longer, concentrates on the dungeons and the attics; trasa D is a thirty-minute canter through the chapel, sacristy and clock tower.