A circular route to Šumburk castle ruins, starting in Klášterec nad Ohří: 11 km

• The historic town of Klášterec nad Ohří, situated on the banks of the river Ohře in northwest Bohemia, is full of interesting surprises and is well worth a visit. The settlement was probably founded in the 12th century, when a branch of the Benedictine monastery in Postoloprty was established on the riverbank. Today, the town is dominated by two fine Baroque churches and a neo-Gothic chateau with a large well-maintained English-style park area.
• The current appearance of the town owes much to the period of ownership by the Thun-Hohensteins (a Bohemian-Austrian noble family with origins in the Trentino area of Italy). The Catholic Thun family acquired the chateau in 1621 after the Battle of White Mountain. The family developed the complex over the following three centuries, until the chateau was expropriated after the second world war. The interesting chateau can be visited on tours between April and October.
• In the Middle Ages, the town and trading route along the Ohře were protected by fortresses constructed on the surrounding volcanic hills. The ruins of these medieval castles can be accessed on easy walks from the town center. The walk to Egerberk castle, situated to the south of the town is covered here. The walk to the extensive ruins of Šumburk, 4 km to the southwest of the town, is outlined below.
• Šumburk castle was founded in the early 15th century and extended at the beginning of the 16th century to create a formidable and large hilltop complex. The castle was destroyed by fire – apparently from a lightening strike in the mid 16th century – and abandoned thereafter. The extensive ruins, which continue to crumble away, are mostly hidden by forest.
• The suggested route from the town centre passes through the chateau park to reach the small spa area, established in the late 19th century when the Evženie spring was discovered. The original spring waters are slightly radioactive (!) but a second spring was established in 1990 and these waters are used today for treatments and bottling.
• The trail follows beside the river Ohře for 3 km before ascending Šumná hill, on which the castle was constructed. The return route passes through the ruins of the 16th century residence constructed when the castle was abandoned and then follows side roads back into the centre of town.
• The route is on a mix of asphalt paths and farms tracks. The ascent and descent paths on the hill are not steep and should be navigable even in the winter months. There is a total of 260m of height to ascend-descend on the 10:8 km round trip.
• There are various refreshment options in town and at the spa area but do try the atmospheric Café Kelly just next to the Holy Trinity Church in the town center (map point 10).

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Directions

• Start at Klášterec chateau (reached by a short bus ride from the train or main bus station). There is a parking area below the chateau
• Walk through the chateau park following the signs to the spa area (Lázně Evženie), which is reached after 800m
• From the spa area, continue on the riverside path for a further 2.9 km until reaching the Šumná junction
• At the Šumná junction, turn right onto the YELLOW trail which leads up to Šumburk ruins after 2.2 km
• After exploring the castle area, return back down the YELLOW trail for 600m, until the path levels out and turns sharply right
• At this point leave the YELLOW trail, turning left onto the forest track which leads after 160m to the ruins of the 16th centurz fortress/farmstead
• Continue on this farm track for 900m to reach the public road
• Continue on the side road (which crosses above the main highway) for 500m and then take the turn to the right
• This is a marked cycle path (connecting to the BLUE hiking trail) that leads directly to the town center after 2.6 km