Helfstyn Castle - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)
Europe
Czech Republic
Moravia
Olomouc Region
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Helfstyn Castle
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Helfstyn Castle

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Helfstyn Castle
4.5
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Duration: 2-3 hours
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles77 reviews
Excellent
44
Very good
28
Average
3
Poor
1
Terrible
1
Frantisek Ruzha
Prague, Czech Republic511 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
large area of the castle
Sep 2020
Immediately after purchasing the ticket, the guide said that Helfštýn Castle is one of the largest in Europe. During the tour, each visitor confirmed this. The castle is beautiful, about seven centuries old. The blacksmith decoration is beautiful.
Written September 18, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hrad Helfštýn
Thank you very much for your review!
Written September 29, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
David D
1,205 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
A large and imposing castle dominating the Moravian Gate.
Aug 2019
A large and impressive fortress that sits on a forested rise above the Moravian Gate. There is not much left inside the castle, but it is currently being renovated so this may change. The fortifications are very impressive in their own right of course, particularly the curtain wall at the entrance, which has been strengthened to withstand artillery fire. In the last courtyard of the castle is a tall tower that has been reconstructed and which gives panoramic views of the castle and the broad plains of the Moravian Gate.
Written December 7, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hrad Helfštýn
Thank you for visiting and for your review! We recommend visiting Helfštýn Castle now, the reopening of the restored palace torso in 2020.😊
Written January 24, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
czgator
DeBary, FL491 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Big castle
Aug 2013 • Family
This is a huge castle with parts in good order and others in ruins. There are lookouts in various places which give you a nice view. Since this castle is located at the top a small mount, the views are very nice of the surrounding countryside. The castle is also used as a center for the display of works of art by blacksmiths and there are tours that go on regarding different subjects.

There is a restaurant located in the castle, but we decided not to eat there due to their rude behavior. Even with that we had a great time and would go again in the future. If you have babies or small children in strollers, or are in a wheelchair, then you will find access to this castle extremely challenging to say the least. We had a difficult time pushing our baby's carriage around.

Besides that, this castle a must if you are in the Přerov area of Central Moravia. I definitely recommend it. Oh, by the way. Research your trip to it carefully. Make sure you come from the side of the mount facing the nearby D-1 highway, and not the opposite side. Our GPS directed us thru the back route which was narrow and perched along a ledge overlooking the valley in some parts. Not the kind of road you want to take in a large car of van.
Written August 10, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jiri R
10 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Very nice but still something to improve
Aug 2016 • Family
We visited this place with our small kids. Very nice location as well as very well treated. It was only one thing which I was missing - it was impossible to pay by credit card. Anywhere. In the pub, at the entrance, nowhere. I believe we are in 21st century so this would be mandatory. However we spent very nice afternoon. Kids enjoyed it. Especially with combination of the ropes labyrinth nearby (also did not accept payment by card :-). But fully recommend.
Written August 23, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Krzysztof P
2 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Huge castle dominating the area.
For fans of history, or casual Game of Thrones viewerd, absolutely a must see. It sits at the top of the big mountain and withstanded all of the sieges during its 700 years of history.
Written May 3, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Bradley T
indy5,789 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Large empty ruin fun to roam and imagine
May 2012 • Couples
I'd give this ruin at least an hour, more if they have an event going on. We enjoyed exploring the castle and imagining what it must have been like when active. There's lots of neat sculpture done by contemporary black smiths through out the castle. We did this as part of a day trip from Olomouc, spending most of the day at the Wallachian open air museum and stopping hear on the way back. It adds 20 minutes driving and that is through lovely countryside and attractive villages.
Written May 17, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
InfoPoet
Olomouc102 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Huge half-ruined Gothic castle to roam
Helfštýn Castle is a partly restored but mostly ruined castle, which means you’re able to make your way around the castle at your own pace, unguided. There are guided tours offered but they’re in Czech only.

The castle was built in the 13th century by the ‘black’ knight Friduš of Lindavá who used the castle’s strategic position, guarding the gate to Moravia, to rob passing travellers. The castle walls at Helfštýn have never been breached by an invading army and the complex is one of the largest in Central Europe.

Inside the first walls are the moat and main entrance gate and then the main courtyard. Several times a year (mostly during the summertime) Helfštýn fills with throngs of people visiting for a festival, or it could be invitingly vacant and yours alone to explore. The busiest time in the castle is during the week of ‘Hefaiston’, a festival dedicated to the art of blacksmithing.

One of the highlights of the castle is the restored look out tower which offers fantastic views across the main pass through the valley where Friduš made his plunders. Helfštýn is the perfect castle for anyone tired of stately rooms and expensive baroque furniture you can’t touch.

There's a decent restaurant in the main palace and Helfštýn is open from the beginning of April until the end of October daily except Mondays.
Written October 2, 2010
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
BlackSheep4x4
Leander, TX5 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Must see medieval castle!
Aug 2018 • Solo
Toured several of the local castles and this was my favorite. They normally don’t offer guided tours in English but the guide let me tag along. He gave me a brief explanation in English after each stop which really added to the experience.

You can’t enter the main castle since it’s being renovated. The renovations are supposed to be completed in about 2 years (2020).
Written August 18, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dorota W
8 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Fantastic castle
Aug 2017 • Family
Went with family for the Hefaiston smithy festival and really loved the castle. Its size is impressive and it's nice to see a medieval building in such good state (although partly rebuilt). Our four year old was mesmerised with the tower and I think the view is breathtaking. We had a pram with us, and maybe it wasn't the smoothest of rides, but it's doable. The festival was well organised as well with plenty of stewards and parking spaces.
Written August 26, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ChristineMargaret
Geneva, Switzerland234 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Interesting,worth a few hours to explore
May 2016 • Couples
Close enough to Olomouc for a pleasant afternoon visit. Ask for the English language pamphlet guide ģat the ticket office. Wear walking shoes and take water because the parking lot is at the bottom of the hill. The castle walls and gates are fascinating. There is a restaurant which serves a casual lunch. You will need some Czech money change to use the bathroom. It is the European centre for the blacksmithing arts which is perfect melding of location and craft, although the place is not large so I'm not sure I would like to be there in August when many thousands visit for the main blacksmithing event of the year. You can see the forges anytime it's open although they are not normally in operation. There are many lovely pieces of wrought metal sculpture around the castle and a dungeon gallery in the last inner courtyard. Ask when the guided tours of the gallery are because it is really worth a visit.
Written June 16, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Helfstyn Castle - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

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