Only few kilometres from Nový Jičín Starojický kopec hill rises, on the top of which there used to be an aristocratic castle Starý Jičín. Today you can only see the ruins which have been preserved on the Starojický kopec hill. The ruin is entwined by paths, tracked out along the ruinous walls and stale basements. The Starý Jičín community which owns the ruin of castle, tries to reconstruct it step by step. Opposite the remains of the castle palace you will now find a new dominating feature of the castle - a dungeon, which was significantly reconstructed. Visitors can visit local Café, which is situated in the castle and is open mostly on Saturdays and Sundays. In the upper part of the look-out tower a period guns exposition and documentation about the castle and its lordship were installed. Not only from the tower you can have a remarkable view of Moravská brána (The Moravian Gate) scenery (on favourable weather conditions) but also from any other place of the ruine.
The area of the ruin is accessible throughout the year.

Visiting hours:
01.04. - 30.04.
Saturdays and Sundays 13:00-17:00
01.05. - 30.06.
Tuesday - Friday 10:00-16:00
Saturdays and Sundays 10:00-17:00
01.07. - 31.08.
daily except Monday 10:00-17:00
01.09. - 30.09.
Saturdays and Sundays 10:00-17:00
Regular lunch break 12:15 - 12:45

Admission:
Visit to the dungeon: adults CZK 20,- ,children under 6 - free, children under 15 CZK 10,-.
Conducted tour: Adults CZK 30,- , children under 6 - free, children under 15 CZK 15,-.
Conducted tours of the castle area for groups of 10 people (minimum) can be booked at least 2 days before. Please contact the castle warden.


Description and history of the castle:

č.r. 8-1683
Starý Jičín ruin of castle
lot no. 505 o.p.,
regional authority Starý Jičín

The originations of the castle are connected with protecting the road to Poland in early 13th century. In 1240, the castle with its surroundings was feoffed to Arnold von Hückeswagen, the courtier of Přemysl Otakar I. First written document about Starý Jičín castle originates from the same year. After the lordship from Pňovice (ancestors of the later Žerotín dynasty) Lords from Kravaře became the proprietors of the castle. They resided there regularly until 1408. They changed for many other later proprietors of the castle (including the Žerotín dynasty). Let's remind some other proprietors such as Ditrichsteins, Xenon dynasty from Dannhausen (1706-1772), until 1906 Earls of Seilern dynasty. The castle suffered a lot during the 30 years' war, but its definite end you can see in the new baroque chateau (1724-1726) in the village under the castle. The castle dilapidated since then even thought some of its parts were lived-in until 1784. The castle is described in 1806 as an old, uninhabited, uninhabitable and ruined. During 19th century the castle became a ruin and many artists, later also various associations were romantically interested in it.
The core of the castle was completed by walls. The own core of the castle had a cylindrical tower on the southern part, from which residential palace buildings spread out northwards. This schema of Saxon-Hessian type of a castle was enriched with other buildings (during 16th century.) Long castle palace spread out by the western wall along the courtyard. On the eastern side a two-storeyed renaissance wing was built up with large windows, out of which you could see a small garden. The renaissance reconstructions (made under the Žerotín dynasty) are the most considerable stage of the castle development( from the art-historical point of view). Not only many architectonic members were discovered during archaeological researches, but also stone decorated elements and ceramic tiles, which indicate art demandingness of the renaissance alterations. The fortifications of the castle were secured by a mural wall with port-holes and battlements broken by several gates. There was a prismatic two storeyed keep at the first gate which has been preserved up to the present day. Its ground floor has a semicular vaulting, upstairs there are little fenestrals and key port-holes. Modern hipped roof (1995-1996) is covered in shingle. As for the other parts of the castle, only fragments have been preserved.