The Spilberk Castle was built in the mid 13th century by the Czech King Přemysl Otakar II. During the 17th and 18th centuries, it was converted into a fort when the castle casemates (where weapons were housed) were adapted to become cells and to house more than 200 prisoners.
The German army occupied the castle between 1939 and 1941 and made several modifications to it. In 1963, it was transformed into a museum and national cultural monument.
The climb to the castle is a fascinating attraction in itself thanks to a tree-lined garden and a small town below. The completely leafless trees provide a show of their own in the winter landscape.
