Zbiroh lies on the boundary between the Křivoklátsko and Brdy Protected Landscape Areas. The castle, local history and marked nature trails offer several distinct ways to explore the town. When planning your visit, it is worth deciding in advance between a castle tour, a museum visit and time on the trails. The options vary in purpose, subject and route, so you can choose the ones that best suit your stay.
The castle and nature trails offer different ways to explore
Zbiroh Castle offers guided tours of its historic interiors. The visit focuses on the inside of the castle, so check the current tour schedule in advance. The nature trails also each have their own focus. “ZbiroĹľskĂ© vyhlĂdky” starts at the information centre and follows a red-marked hiking trail to the castle gate of Zbiroh Castle. Five stops divide the route into sections. If you are interested in the history of the town, the “Toulky StarĂ˝m Zbirohem” trail offers a different starting point: it begins at the information centre on Masaryk Square and initially follows a green-marked hiking trail. Its first stop is beyond the bridge over the ZbiroĹľskĂ˝ potok and presents the history of Zbiroh.
The “Trůn krále železnic” nature trail is 6.5 kilometres long and has eight stops. Starting from a square in Zbiroh, it crosses the embankment of the former Strousberg Railway and leads to a pond near the settlement of V Čápu. Its route and subject therefore differ from those of trails that lead directly to the castle or explore the town’s history. For planning, the stated length and number of stops are useful guides; also check current trail conditions before your visit. Zbiroh Castle is also part of a popular cycling route through the Křivoklátská Highlands. This offers another way to explore the area, in addition to the nature trails, for travellers who want to visit as part of a cycling route.
Literary history, the town museum and the church
The J. V. Sládek Museum and the Zbiroh Town Museum are located at the original site of the poet’s birthplace. The permanent exhibition at the J. V. Sládek Museum presents his private life through furniture and furnishings from his Prague apartment, along with twelve chronologically arranged panels. The panels give the exhibition a timeline, while the objects from his apartment add a glimpse of the poet’s everyday life.
The town museum focuses on the region’s economic and craft history. It presents the development of ironmaking, trades and guilds in the Zbiroh area, the now-defunct nail-making trade, and the business activities of B. H. Strousberg, the “King of the Railways.” The parish church of St. Nicholas offers a different historical perspective. It is documented as a Gothic church as early as 1364, was extensively remodelled in the Baroque style in 1716, and was restored in 1883 and 1921. The town thus brings together literary, industrial and religious history, each representing a different period and focus.
Local cuisine and practical information
The Zbiroh Castle Tavern serves Tafelspitz and other specialities in an authentic medieval setting. A vineyard in the castle’s English-style park produces wine that can be purchased at the visitor centre or the Castle Tavern. Opening hours and sales arrangements may change, so check what is currently available before your visit.
For those travelling by car, the distance to the D5 offers a useful reference point: Zbiroh is six kilometres from the D5 entrance towards Prague–Pilsen. You can plan your visit to the castle, museums and nature trails around your own interests. If you are looking for accommodation, you can take these priorities into account when planning your days.
Discover more destinations: Kakejcov, Březina U Rokycan, Skomelno, Strašice, Cekov, Hrádek U Rokycan, Těškov, Kamenec.
For the broader travel overview: Okres Rokycany.
