Rataje nad Sázavou: Castles, Chateau and Trails along the Sázava

Rataje nad Sázavou combines a medieval town history with castles, chateau interiors and clearly distinct routes for cyclists and walkers. Those looking for accommodation in the town can therefore tailor their stay to different experiences: exploring the fortification remains and Pirkštejn Castle, taking a guided tour of the chateau or following a longer route through the Sázava Valley.

Fortifications and Pirkštejn Castle

The town fortifications of Rataje nad Sázavou ran along the edge of the promontory on whose plateau the town lies. The Lower Gate and part of the eastern moat have survived. Together with the area containing archaeological finds, designated as a medieval town with two castles, these remains give the town an unusually tangible historical structure.

Pirkštejn Castle stands on a spur projecting from the larger promontory that slopes down toward the town of Rataje nad Sázavou. The Lords of Lipé built the lower Pirkštejn Castle. Today, Pirkštejn is a preserved ruin; its palace, tower and outbuildings were used for the local parish office during the Baroque period. A walk through the town can thus be combined with several different examples of its history without treating the individual buildings as one single complex.

Chateau, Interiors and Art

A guided tour of the historic rooms of Rataje nad Sázavou Chateau leads through several representative and private interiors. They contain furnishings dating from the second half of the 18th century to the first third of the 20th century. The chateau also houses a long-term art exhibition about Jiří Václav Hampl and Marie Uchytilová. The Church of Saint Matthew was newly built and consecrated on 21 September 1691.

A Walk or a Cycling Route?

Two differently designed options are available for planning your day. The walk following in the footsteps of Jindřich from Kingdom Come: Deliverance begins in Rataje nad Sázavou, is 14 km long and is estimated to take 4.5 hours. It leads from the Sázava Valley into the town, through a stone gate and to a view of Pirkštejn Castle.

The approximately 30-km cycling loop 3/C leads from Sázava via Talmberk and Rataje nad Sázavou, as well as other towns, back to Sázava. This allows you to distinguish between a fixed walking route with a connection to the town and a longer loop through several towns when planning your trip. The difference in length provides a clear point of reference for planning the day: at approximately 30 kilometres, the cycling loop is considerably longer than the 14-km walk.

Water Sports Camp at the Rataje Weir

Above the Rataje weir, there is also the Bořeň water sports camp with cabins and catering facilities.

Discover More Places

If you would like to expand your search to other places, you can find Církvice, Stipoklasy, Hraběšín, Soběšín, Vavřinec, Caslav, Souňov and Třebonín here.

For the broader travel overview: Okres Kutná Hora.