Pernštejn Castle

Pernštejn Castle is a medieval castle near Nedvědice in the South Moravian Region of the Czech Republic, about 40 kilometres north-west of Brno. Founded in the late 13th century, the castle sits dramatically on a rocky hill above the surrounding landscape and is one of the best-preserved Gothic and Renaissance castles in the country. Its towers, courtyards, bridges, steep approach roads and fortress-like walls have made it a natural filming location for gothic horror, fantasy, historical drama and action films.

The castle has been used in several international productions, often standing in for fictional castles, remote fortresses or old European strongholds. It is especially notable for its connection to two different “Nosferatu” films: Werner Herzog’s Nosferatu: Phantom der Nacht (1979) and Robert Eggers’ “Nosferatu” (2024). It also appears in “Van Helsing” (2004), “Journey to the Christmas Star” (2012), “Borgia” (2011–2014) and “Wanted” (2008).

In Nosferatu: Phantom der Nacht (1979), Pernštejn Castle is used as Count Dracula’s castle. Jonathan Harker arrives at the remote fortress, meets Dracula, enters the crypt area and later escapes from the castle. The stone courtyards, gateways and dark interiors give Werner Herzog’s film much of its old-world atmosphere, making Pernštejn one of the most important locations in the film.

In “Van Helsing” (2004), Pernštejn Castle appears as Castle Frankenstein. The film uses the castle as part of its exaggerated gothic Transylvania, with the real structure heavily supported by CGI and fantasy design. Even with the digital additions, the castle’s steep position and medieval form give the location a strong horror-adventure identity.

In “Wanted” (2008), Wesley Gibson arrives at Pernštejn Castle during the film’s shift from urban action into the more secretive world of the Fraternity. The castle is again transformed through the film’s stylised action language, but the real medieval architecture remains visible beneath the modern thriller treatment.

In “Journey to the Christmas Star” (2012), the Norwegian fairy-tale film uses Pernštejn Castle as part of its medieval fantasy world. Directed by Nils Gaup and based on Sverre Brandt’s classic Norwegian Christmas story “Reisen til Julestjernen”, the film was partly shot in the Czech Republic, where Pernštejn provided the kind of castle setting that would have been difficult to recreate in Norway. The location’s towers, courtyards and old stone architecture fit naturally into the film’s royal and fairy-tale atmosphere.

In “Borgia” (2011–2014), Pernštejn Castle was used during the production of the historical drama series. The show filmed extensively in the Czech Republic, including at Barrandov Studios and selected castle locations, and Pernštejn’s preserved medieval character made it suitable for the series’ world of Renaissance politics, church power and noble intrigue.

In “Nosferatu” (2024), Pernštejn Castle returns to vampire cinema. Robert Eggers’ film uses several European locations for Count Orlok’s world, with Corvin Castle in Romania used for major exteriors and Pernštejn Castle used for gatehouse and courtyard scenes. This gives Pernštejn a rare double connection to the Nosferatu tradition, having appeared in both Herzog’s 1979 version and Eggers’ 2024 reinterpretation.

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