Michalovice Castle

Michalovice Castle - Hrad Michalovice, Mladá Boleslav, Central Bohemian Region, Czech Republic.

Michalovice Castle was founded in the second half of the 13th century. Its first documented owner was Jan of Michalovice. The massive, leaning tower of these ruins offers one of the best vantage points in the Mladá Boleslav region. The cylindrical tower is constructed of regular masonry, featuring stones shaped almost like ashlar blocks. Due to its distinctive shape, local tradition has dubbed the stone structure "Putna" (a type of traditional wooden carrying basket).
Overlooking the romantic Jizera River valley, the "Michalovice Putna" was a favorite spot of the traveler and poet Karel Hynek Mácha; a bronze commemorative plaque, installed to mark the centenary of his visit, bears witness to this connection. The tower, which offers a beautiful view of the surrounding countryside, is visibly tilted, earning it the nickname "the Leaning Tower of Pisa of Mladá Boleslav." Legend attributes the tilt to either adventurous treasure hunters or a shifting of the subsoil. Another theory suggests the tower cracked and tilted during blasting operations carried out beneath the castle during railway construction between 1863 and 1865—though this claim is incorrect. According to the latest findings, the tower cracked due to a gunpowder explosion that occurred well before 1738.
At the entrance to the ruins, you can purchase souvenirs or postcards from this enchanting location. An audio panel—part of the "Metal Trail through Mladá Boleslav" educational path—now also provides information about the history and secrets of the leaning tower.