Hrad Pecka
Restored Renaissance castle, the “Pearl of the Podkrkonoší”, with the study of Kryštof Harant, a knights' hall, the black kitchen and the Harant cellars.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The first written mention of Pecka Castle dates from 1322, when Budivoj of Pecka is named as its owner. The castle originally protected the land border and the gold mines near Stupná. It had two towers connected by a curtain wall and a residential palace, surrounded by a moat with a drawbridge. From the end of the 15th century the owners extended the residential parts. From the second half of the 16th century, under the Škopek family of Bílé Otradovice, a Renaissance rebuilding took place, which Kryštof Harant of Polžice and Bezdružice completed at the beginning of the 17th century. A manor seat was created, with four palaces around a courtyard, decorated with sgraffito and coats of arms.
After Harant's execution on Old Town Square in Prague in 1621, Albrecht of Wallenstein acquired Pecka and gave it to the Carthusians of Valdice, who used it for more than one hundred and fifty years only as a summer residence. The castle gradually decayed, and a fire in 1830 dealt the final blow. The dismantling of the masonry followed, lasting until 1921, when the village of Pecka acquired the ruins.
The townspeople saved at least part of the building. With state subsidies and their own labour they repaired the western Harant palace, and from 1968 the castle has served as a tourist destination with a guided route. In 2012 the original entrance to the cellar directly from the courtyard was restored, and a second separate tour route was created.
Highlights
- study of Kryštof Harant with an original copy of his 1608 travel account
- knights' hall with an exhibition of sacred art
- black kitchen with a working orchestrion
- Harant cellars with a torture chamber, wine and beer cellars and interactive features
- view of the Krkonoše Mountains
Permanent exhibitions
- Okruh A – historický – The tour leads through Harant's study, rooms about the history of the castle and town, the knights' hall with an exhibition of sacred art, and the black kitchen with the orchestrion.
- Okruh B – Harantovy sklepy – The cellar exhibition shows food supply, eating and hygiene at the castle under Kryštof Harant. It includes the cellars, the banquet hall, a bathhouse and a medieval torture chamber.
Admission & discounts
| Adults | 125 Kč |
|---|---|
| Reduced | 80 Kčseniors and students aged 16–25 |
| Children & teens | 60 Kčfree up to age 5 · Children aged 6–15 pay CZK 60; children aged 0–5 enter free. |
| Seniors | 80 Kč |
| Visitors with disabilities | 60 Kčcompanion free · Holders of ZTP and ZTP/P cards pay CZK 60; guides of ZTP/P holders enter free. |
| Students & apprentices | 80 KčStudents aged 16–25. |
| Groups (10+ people) | –Booking is recommended for groups of 10 or more and required for groups of more than 20. |
| Families | 350 Kč2 adults and 2–3 children, or 2 students. |
| Route A – historical | 80 KčSeniors and students CZK 60; children aged 6–15, ZTP and ZTP/P CZK 45. |
| Route B – Harant cellars | 80 KčSeniors and students CZK 60; children aged 6–15, ZTP and ZTP/P CZK 45. |
The basic admission listed applies to the full tour (route A and route B, about 60 minutes). Admission and souvenirs can be paid for at the ticket office by ordinary payment cards.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible: no information
- Elevator: no information
- Accessible restroom: no information
- Accessible parking: no information
- Service dogs welcome: no information
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
The website does not give information about step-free access. Small dog breeds may be taken on the guided tour in a carrying bag or in arms; outdoor areas are open to dogs on a lead.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 5 |
|---|---|
| Family ticket | 350 Kč · 2 adults and 2–3 children, or 2 students. |
- Hands-on stations
Route B (Harant cellars) is also recommended to families with children; it contains several interactive elements. A family ticket costs CZK 350.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Since 2024, bus line 536 runs at weekends: Dvůr Králové nad Labem – Bílá Třemešná – Pecka – Nová Paka – Stará Paka.
By car
Free parking · 300 m to the entrance
Parking by the road from Pecka towards Hořice and Dvůr Králové nad Labem, and spaces on Pecka's square. Both are free and about 300 m from the castle.
Amenities & dining
During opening hours the Polžice bistro offers a fast-food stand (soups, cold cuts, regional specialities) and KUMRAUS beer.
Events & venue rental
- Spaces for rent
- Weddings / ceremonies
The castle offers weddings and room hire. Concerts and theatre performances are also held in the knights' hall.
Inquiries & detailsPlan your visit
| Guided tours | yes · approx. 60 min |
|---|---|
| Good to know | The full tour (route A and route B) with a guide takes about 60 minutes; the routes can also be visited separately. The website does not give information on guided tours in foreign languages. |
