Foto: Dagmar Hájková

Berstejn Castle. A place where peace and privacy await.

Berstejn is for people who no longer wish to chase after glitter and gloss.
For those who seek calm, quiet, and genuine connection — with nature, with the place, and with the people around them.

When we bought Berstejn Castle in the early 1990s, it was abandoned and slated for demolition. Yet we saw a home and a purpose in it. Step by step, we restored it, and in 1997 we opened it to guests — without any subsidies. Since then, we have lived here, worked here, and cared for this place, which continues to teach us patience, humility, and the joy of simple things.

Sustainability here didn’t begin as a plan. It grew from daily care for the castle, the surrounding landscape, and the relationships with people who return again and again. Today, we are continuing the restoration of the opposite Baroque Panský Farmstead — another part of the estate we want to preserve and bring back to life for future generations.

We cook for you honestly and with joy. We use fresh ingredients from local suppliers, as well as our own herbs, honey, and eggs. We respect our guests’ needs and preferences — vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free cuisine is available on request. To us, food is part of caring, not just a service.

At Berstejn, we live here with our family and personally welcome our guests. We don’t promise perfection, but humanity, friendship, calm, and time to slow down. No pressure to perform, no show — just time together.

Berstejn is not about what there is to do.
It’s about how you feel here.

We look forward to welcoming you soon,
Markéta & Miro Slezák

Our values are not just words – they are reflected in the awards and professional recognition we deeply value.

More about Awards

Transformation of the Berštejn Castle

 

Miroslav Slezák

Owner of the castle and its restorer, athlete in body and soul, a man who dislikes standing still

Miroslav Slezák bought Berstejn Castle in the early 1990s when it was closer to demolition than to a future. But he saw a home — and a purpose. A former hockey national team player, German champion, and tennis coach, he became the lord of the castle, trading his hockey stick for a spade — and still finds that perfectly natural.

After years in Germany playing top-level hockey, working in construction and representing the country at world championships, he returned to the Czech Republic and devoted himself to saving a Renaissance heritage. Together with his wife Markéta, he rebuilt the castle with his own hands and has run it as a family hotel since 1997. And because saving one building was not enough, he now continues the restoration of the opposite Baroque Panský Farmstead.

Miro has boundless energy. In the morning he might prepare breakfast for guests, by noon you might find him on a construction site, in the afternoon on a tennis court or golf course, and in the evening even mowing the park. To him, rest is more like a change of activity. He is competitive, warm-hearted, and restless when things stand still.

Personal motto:
“The best rest is a change of work — and sometimes of pace.”

Markéta Slezák

Co-owner of the castle, the soul of Berstejn, a woman of many roles

Markéta Slezák originally studied art and design, but she was always drawn to history, cinema, and storytelling. She appeared in eight international films and two Czech films and worked professionally in advertising, focusing on creativity, strategy, and working with people. Her sense of detail, image, and atmosphere still guides her today.

When she met her future husband over thirty years ago and entered life at Berstejn Castle, she embraced all that it entailed. Together they furnished and shaped the castle. In addition to hosting and daily management, Markéta has actively worked on regional development and improving Czech–German relations in the former Sudetenland, including the area of Dubské Švýcarsko. She believes that landscape, history, and people belong together — and that good relationships are built patiently, personally, and with openness.

At Berstejn, Markéta is at home in many roles — host, organizer, storyteller, and quiet support behind the scenes. In her free time she paints, practices Qi Gong, and tends bees and two small lambs that quickly win the hearts of young guests. On her heels everywhere is her devoted dog King, who looks like a little Lassie. Perhaps this is why Berstejn feels so natural and safe — as if you belong here.

Personal motto:
“Life is about finding joy in the little things. As long as something has meaning, it’s worth it.”

 

Karel Sloup

Head chef, the heart of the castle kitchen, a man you can rely on

Karel Sloup has been cooking at Berstejn Castle for more than thirty years. He is part of this place as naturally as the stone walls or the old trees in the park. His kitchen doesn’t rely on flair — it relies on honesty, taste, and respect for ingredients — and guests notice it from the first bite.

He cooks with calm and experience, using fresh local produce, and is equally at home with Czech classics, game, and international cuisine. He also prepares vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free dishes with ease when requested. For Karel, cooking is a space of care — quiet but important.

When he isn’t cooking, you can find him in the castle garden tending the greenery, or in the off-season working on the restoration of the Panský Farmstead. He’s one of those people who don’t speak much, but without whom Berstejn wouldn’t be what it is.

Personal motto:
“Give it some love.”

Note: It’s probably time to take a new photo of our Karel so he has an up-to-date picture.

 

Miro Slezák, junior

A young man with a passion for AI, games, golf, drinks — and everything in between

At Berstejn Castle, things sometimes simply wouldn’t work without Miro’s involvement. He is our universal sidekick — you might meet him wearing a glove at the golf tee, in a bartender’s apron polishing glasses, at the chess table with guests, or behind a computer screen programming something smart. He studies IT, but the family castle is his second home server — he’s known every corner of it since childhood.

No challenge is too big or too small. In the afternoon, he teaches guests a proper golf swing; in the evening, he mixes a perfect drink; and in the morning, he might help his mum trim the lambs. And when a Hollywood movie was filmed at our castle and the neighbouring Houska Castle, he naturally appeared in it too — because why not? In addition, he runs seminars titled “How to Use AI in Business” for entrepreneurs, small business owners, and self-employed professionals.

One of his admirable superpowers? Communication. He speaks several languages fluently. The most important one, however, is the language understood by both managers and artificial intelligence. Miro has already given talks on AI in business here at the castle for local entrepreneurs — and plans to continue. He is living proof that tradition and cutting-edge technology do not contradict each other. Quite the opposite. He is the one who connects them — with calm energy and a computer-driven mind.

Personal motto:
“Responsibility and resilience are in my genes, ideas in my head, and the future in my own hands.”