Kokořín Castle, Houska's neighbor above the valley
Twenty minutes from Houska, Kokořín stands on a rock above a deep sandstone valley. It pairs naturally with the hell-gate castle, and two of the tours on this site end here. This guide covers its history, prices and hours, the walk up and the rocks below.
Twelve kilometers and a different mood
Kokořín stands about 12 km (7.5 miles) from Houska by road, roughly 20 minutes, and about 50 km (31 miles) from Prague's Old Town, an hour's drive. It rises from a rock above Kokořínský důl, the wooded valley at the core of the Kokořínsko protected landscape. If Houska feels closed in on itself, Kokořín does the opposite. Its tall round tower is built to be seen from far off and to look out from, and climbing it is the part most day trips build in.
After the hushed chapel at Houska, described in our guide to the castle interior, Kokořín feels like a change of weather. You trade the legend of a sealed pit for open views over forest and sandstone, which is exactly why the two make such a good pair.
From medieval seat to romantic rebuild
The castle was built in the first half of the 14th century by Hynek Berka of Dubá, from a family whose name also turns up in some historians' account of how Houska began. Over the centuries it fell into ruin, and a ruin is what Václav Špaček bought in 1894. Between 1911 and 1918 it was rebuilt in neo-Gothic style to plans by the architect Eduard Sochor, which is why the castle looks so complete today. In 2006 it was returned to the Špaček family.
That history shapes what you see. Kokořín is an early 20th-century vision of a medieval castle raised on the remains of a real one, a romantic reconstruction rather than a time capsule. If you want the documented medieval layer, Houska's chapel murals are older than anything you will meet here, and our Houska legend and history guide sets out that story.
Routes and ticket prices
Kokořín sells two routes. Route I starts with a guided tour of the old palace and then lets you explore the walls and the tower viewpoint on your own. Route II is the tower alone, self-guided. These are the prices on the castle's price list.
| Ticket | Route I and II | Route II (tower) |
|---|---|---|
| Adult | 140 CZK | 70 CZK |
| Student (15–26) or senior (65+) | 100 CZK | 70 CZK |
| Child under 15 | 80 CZK | 50 CZK |
| Child under 6 | Free | Free |
| Family (2 adults, 2 children aged 6–15) | 340 CZK | Not offered |
| Dog | 30 CZK | 30 CZK |
Opening months and hours
Like Houska, Kokořín keeps a short season and closes on Mondays.
| Month | Days | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| April | Sat and Sun (weekdays by phone) | 9 am to 4 pm |
| May | Tue to Sun | 9 am to 4 pm |
| June to August | Tue to Sun | 9 am to 5 pm |
| September | Tue to Sun | 9 am to 4 pm |
| October | Sat and Sun | 9 am to 4 pm |
| November to March | By arrangement with the castle | No regular hours |
The last tour starts 30 minutes before closing. The castle's homepage banner gives October as 9 am to 3:45 pm, slightly earlier than the table, so confirm on the official Kokořín Castle site before an autumn visit.
The climb from the car park
The official site says nothing about the approach, so we rely on two other sources. The Vintura wine tour describes the final stretch as an easy 15-minute uphill walk, while independent guides put it at 10–15 minutes from the paid car park below the castle, steep in places and with steps. Those guides mention parking at around 100 CZK a day, which we could not confirm with the castle. Wear shoes with some grip, and if anyone in your group has limited mobility, ask the castle about access before setting out.
Walk the valley, then climb the tower
Vintura's hiking day takes up to four guests from Prague past Pokličky, old rock dwellings, Kokořín and a forest picnic, at ~$107 per person.
Kokořínský důl and the Pokličky rocks
The valley below the castle is the reason to linger. Kokořínský důl is a nature reserve at the heart of the protected landscape area, which was declared in 1976, and its sandstone cliffs are riddled with overhangs and caves. Some of those caves were lived in long ago, and the doorways and chambers cut into the rock have an empty, watchful feel that suits a region where stories like Houska's took root.
The best-known sight is Pokličky, the "lids". These are sandstone towers topped with harder, iron-rich caps that shielded the softer rock beneath while the rest weathered away, leaving shapes like giant stone mushrooms. A 9.5 km (5.9 miles) loop from the car park below Kokořín reaches them and comes back, following the red trail along the Pšovka stream and then the blue trail up to the viewpoint. It is rated an easy walk, and it combines well with a castle visit on a long summer day.
Seeing Kokořín on a tour
Three of the tours on this site stop at Kokořín, each in a different way.
- With Houska. The private Houska tour at ~$923 for up to three includes Kokořín tickets, and its listing mentions the tower climb and the views.
- On foot. Vintura's hiking day at ~$107 per person leaves Prague at 9 am, lasts about eight hours and adds a Czech beer after the hike. Dogs can come by request. The listing does not make clear whether entry to the castle interior is included.
- With wine. The Bohemian wine tour at ~$214 per person spends about four hours in Mělník, then ends at Kokořín with a 50-minute guided tour, all entrance fees included. It does not visit Houska.
Pairing Kokořín with Houska
Kokořín opens at 9 am and Houska at 10 am, which suggests an order if you drive. Arrive at Kokořín for opening, climb the tower in the morning light, then cover the 20 minutes to Houska for a late-morning tour. Both castles close on Mondays, and both open only at weekends in April and October, so a Saturday or Sunday is the only option in those months. Our day-trip planner sets out full itineraries, and our getting-there guide covers the roads from Prague. With a car and a fit group you could also swap Kokořín for the steeper climb at Bezděz, compared in our Bezděz and Mělník guide.