From the vague outlines of its inception, the Romanesque-Gothic castle Zbiroh emerges at the end of the 12th century as the oldest Czech aristocratic residence in Czech. The original part of the castle still dominates the oldest freestanding watchtower on our territory, hidden there is the deepest well in Europe and as a pearl of the castle part is here one of the oldest chapels in the country. Todays form of grandeurs renaissance chateau Zbiroh gains at the very end of the 16th century, in the possession of Emperor Rudolf II. Habsburg.
Chateau and its scenic surroundings were in the past popular in the community of many prominent personalities. One of the most remarkable ones is undoubtedly Alfons Mucha, who lived at the castle for nearly 20 years and created here the entire Slav Epic.
http://zbiroh.com/

Zbiroh Chateau

Account

by category

Login

Name

by region

Title

Name in English

The castle was built in the second half of the 13th century by Oldřich Zajíc III, but the Zajíc family soon moved elsewhere and sold the castle to the king. In 1336, the house of Luxembourg acquired Žebrák and in 1346, Jindřich of the Luxembourg house started renovating it. He later gave the castle to Karel IV, who became the Holy Roman Emperor shortly afterwards. Karel's son Václav IV liked the castle very much, but after the large fire in 1395, he built a more strategically positioned castle above it. During the Hussite wars, the Hussite army unsuccessfully besieged Žebrák and Točník and then proceeded to burn down the towns Točník and Hořovice. In 1532, another fire struck the castle, but this time, nobody bothered renovating it. In the year 1923, the castle was sold to the Czech Association of Tourists for 8000 crowns and now it belongs to the state.

Žebrák Castle

The area where the castle stands was inhabited by people two thousand years ago, but it was not until the 14th century when the Bohemian and German king Wenceslaus IV decided to build his residence there. The castle Točník was built after the large fire in the castle Žebrák, which showed how unsafe it was for the king and how its position was not strategic.
The castle was built on a three-part ground plan. Behind the defensive wall is a massive moat with a bridge, which was originally protected by a gate tower. The most important building, situated in the residential section on the L-shaped ground plan, is the Royal Palace with its side wing. The second floor of the palace was taken up with a ceremonial hall, while other floors were residential.
During the Hussite wars, when Václav's brother Sigismund was in power, the castle was besieged by the Hussite army for three days, until it gave up and burnt down the towns Točník and Hořovice instead. The castle was then mortgaged and handed over from one person to another, but it never found an owner that would keep it for a longer time and so it was gradually reduced to ruins. Jan of Watemberg initiated the first stage of the Renaissance alterations, which were continued by the Lobkowicz family. In 1594, the castle came once again to the royal property and was administrated by the Bohemian (Czech) Royal Chamber. The Thirty Years' War contributed greatly to the castle's deterioration. In the year 1923, the castle was sold to the Czech Association of Tourists for 2000 Czechoslovak crowns and now it belongs to the state. Since the 1930s the gradual restoration works continue until to this day.

Točník Castle

Hořovice Castle is a castle located in the town of Hořovice, Bohemia, Czech Republic.
It was built in two parts. In the first half of the 19th century by Friedrich Wilhelm I of Hesse, following plans of the architect G. Engelhardt, a major rebuilding took place, adding another story to the building.
Its final appearance is due to more refurbishings at the beginning of the 20th century, with the furniture of the rooms being carried out in late classicist style.

Hořovice Castle

The name is probably derived from two German words: Wald (the forest) and Eck (a widespread part of places' names, meaning rock formation).
The castle was built around the middle of the 13th century (first written mention comes from the year 1263) by an aristocratic family called Buzic. In 1623 it was described as abandoned. Passing centuries left only ruins, dominated by a still standing large round tower (bergfrit), built during the second half of the 13th century.
Several old myths and legends are associated with the ruins.

Valdek Castle

Originally a fortress, reconstructed at the end of the 17th century into a storeyed two-winged Baroque chateau. The building includes a three-storey tower (from 1689).
https://czecot.com/

Osek u Rokycan Chateau

Ruins of a mediaeval castle, founded some time before 1232, when the first mention of it is found. This date puts the castle among the oldest castles of the Czech aristocracy. Over the centuries the castle changed owners, was rebuilt as a chateau with a large agricultural castle fortification, but in 1785 it was deserted and it became dilapidated.. Today it is a immense ruin.
https://czecot.com/

Krašov Castle

Two-storey Baroque chateau with a mansard roof, built on the site of a former fortress. The facades are divided by colums with decorative heads.
https://czecot.com/

Liblín Chateau

The castle was founded in 1381 by Jíra of Roztoky, an influential courtier of King Wenceslas IV. This excellent building from Wenceslas´ court builders is a great example of the development of castle architecture in the Czech lands in the late 14th century.
It was converted largely in Renaissance style in the mid 16th century and finally abandoned to decay after a devastating fire in 1783. Only a ruin of the once palatial residency has survived, with a large number of features of Gothic architecture. Krakovec Castle is known above all as a refuge for Master Jan Hus who was staying here in the years 1413–1414, before his departure for Konstanz.
http://waymarking.com/

Krakovec Castle

In the first half of the 16th century Mirošov was owned by Ferdinand Gryspek from Gryspach and it was probably he who first built a renaissance fort here with a courtyard and brewery. Because he died without heirs, his brother sold the property at the beginning of the 17th century to Adam Vratislav of Mitrovic.
Adam Vratislav´s grandson Jan Antonin was ennobled to the rank of count and began to build a prestigious residence. In building the present baroque chateau he got into debt and the property was taken into court administration. In 1725 the property was bought in auction by the Imperial Court Chamber. The chateau was at that time empty and dilapidated with many windows knocked out. The new manager of the estate organised repairs and apartments and an office were built in the chateau.
From 1834 the chateau was the seat of the Imperial Mining Administration which also used the premises as apartments and offices.
From 1868 to 1890 there were several changes of owners after which the estate was bought by the Mirošov Coal Mining Company, whose long-serving director was Jan Fitz. At that time (from 1893 to 1897) the chateau was thoroughly repaired at great expense. Amongst other things, it was given a new facade and roof and the wooden inlaid ceilings, doors and wooden panelling are from that period. Fitz later bought the property from the mining company and after his death Max Maendl bought the estate in a public auction. Maendl´s son Josef continued to manage the property after him, but in 1939, since he was Jewish, with the threat of German fascism, he sold the property to Dr. Ladislav Feierabend and fled abroad.
In 1940 Dr Feierabend, an economist and politician, was himself forced to escape abroad when his role in the resistance movement was uncovered and was about to be arrested by the Gestapo. He managed to get to England where he became Minister of Finance in President Beneš´s Government in exile. After the liberation of Czechoslovakia in 1945, Dr.Feierabend returned to the republic and began to manage his estate in Mirošov again. After the communist putsch in February 1948 he was forced once more into exile - this time taking his family with him - narrowly avoiding arrest by the communist secret police.
After 3 years of belonging to the state, in 1952 the management of Mirošov chateau with its estate was taken over by the Czechoslovak State Farm Institution. The interior of the chateau was again converted into flats and offices, as well as a kitchen for employees and a refectory.
At the beginning of the 1970´s the chateau was tranferred to the ownership of the Customs Office, which wanted to establish a training centre here. Soon, however, the building work began to falter and the Customs Office eventually abandoned its plan - not, unfortunately, before the chateau was substantially damaged by ill-conceived attempts at reconstruction.
The chateau then remained abandoned until 1991 when it was returned in restitution to Dr.Feierabend´s daughter - Hana Ludikar - who, with her family, decided to restore the property. The repairs begun at that time are still continuing and are being directed by her son Philip Ludikar.
http://zamek-mirosov.cz/

Mirošov Chateau

Křivoklát was founded in the 12th century, belonging to the kings of Bohemia. During the reign of Přemysl Otakar II a large, monumental royal castle was built, later rebuilt by king Václav IV and later enlarged by king Vladislav of Jagellon.
The castle was damaged by fire several times. It was turned into a harsh prison and the building slowly deteriorated. During the 19th century, the family of Fürstenberg became the owners of the castle and had it reconstructed after a fire in 1826.
Today the castle serves as a museum, tourist destination and place for theatrical exhibitions. Collections of hunting weapons, Gothic paintings and books are stored there.
The village of Křivoklát, founded in the 14th century, grew slowly below the castle.