Zbiroh is a romantic medieval castle ruin perched on a sandstone outcrop in a commanding position above an elbow in the Jizera river. Little is known of Zbiroh’s history. It was built in the 14th century, probably by the Vartenberk family (a branch of the Markvart family, which controlled most of the region in the 13th and 14th centuries).

The castle saw action in the Hussite wars in the first half of the 15th century. Around 1442 it was captured and destroyed by royalist troops and never again repaired. Legend has it that the castle was occupied for several years by the notorious nobleman bandit, the Black Knight, and his band of outlaws. He was finally captured and beheaded at the castle, and his ghost is rumoured to roam the deserted ruins.