Švihov Castle was built by royal judge Půta Švihovský at the end of the 15th century. Together with walks to other sights, it is central to the cultural focus of a stay in Švihov U Klatov. Churches, Jewish cemeteries and routes of varying lengths can also be included in your plans. This lets you combine the history of the town with a choice of shorter and longer walks.

The castle complex between water and fortifications

The castle was designed as an artificial island and protected by two moats. Water from the Úhlava supplied the moats. The design and water system were therefore part of the fortifications, not merely features of the castle’s surroundings. When exploring the castle, you can consider the artificial island, the moats and their connection to the river as parts of a unified design. This adds a concrete perspective on the castle’s design to its historical dating.

Historic churches and Jewish history

The Church of St Giles is the oldest building in Švihov. Another stop is the former hospital church of St John the Evangelist, which was probably built at the beginning of the 14th century. The Church of St Wenceslas can also be visited on a tour of the sights. The tour also leads to Jewish cemeteries dating from the time when Švihov was a centre of the Jewish community in the surrounding area. Church architecture and the town’s earlier Jewish history thus offer different themes for a tour of its past.

Compare walks and routes

For an easy walk focused on monuments, “Procházka po památkách Švihova” is a good choice: the route goes around the castle and to other sights in Švihov. The “Po stopách Popelky” route starts in front of the castle and runs about three kilometres to Mezihoří; local conditions may affect access. A longer option is the 26-kilometre Švihov educational trail. Check its signposting on site. Distance and interests are two different criteria when choosing a route: the easy walk focuses on the town’s monuments, while the route to Mezihoří and the educational trail, at about three and 26 kilometres respectively, give you an indication of their lengths. The two routes differ considerably in length; the educational trail is the longest of the routes mentioned.

Arriving at the castle car park

The castle car park is about 100 metres from the castle. The level walk takes one to two minutes. This short connection makes it easy to include the walk from the car park in your plans. Parking rules and fees may change; check them before you travel.

Discover more destinations: Janovice Nad Úhlavou, Susice, Slatina, Annín, Kašperské Hory, Chlistov, Besiny, Horní Staňkov

Return to the broader travel overview: Okres Klatovy.