Hrad Pirkštejn

Rataje nad Sázavou, Czechia, Czech Republic (Czechia)

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Hrad Pirkštejn in Rataje nad Sázavou, Czechia, is a 14th-century castle founded by Henry of Lipá as part of the town's fortifications.

It played a significant role in the region's history, housing notable noble families such as Hynce Ptáček of Pirkštejn, who governed Rataje and was influential during the Hussite Wars. The castle suffered damage during a fire in the 15th century and the peasant uprising in 1627, after which its importance declined as newer residences became favored. In the early 18th century, it was converted into a parsonage with its tower repurposed as a bell tower.

Notable for its preserved shell wall and massive cylindrical tower with walls around four meters thick, the castle today is owned by the church and is not open to the public, standing as a unique example of medieval military architecture with a residential past. It remains an important cultural and historical monument within the town's preserved medieval core.​