Location: Velhartice, West Bohemia Map
Constructed: 1290-1310
Tel. 376 583 330
Open:
Apr, Oct
9am- 4pm Sat & Sun
May, Sept 9am- 5pm Tue- Sun
Jun- Aug 9am- 6pm
Tue- Sun
Velhartice Castle, a captivating Gothic structure with Renaissance additions, stands as one of the most romantic and architecturally unique castles in Bohemia. Located in the village of Velhartice within the Klatovy district of the Pilsen Region, Czech Republic, it perches on a narrow rocky promontory 640 meters above sea level, overlooking the Ostružná River (also known as Pstružná). Positioned between the town of Klatovy and the Šumava Mountains, the castle's coordinates are approximately 49°15′53″N 13°23′35″E. Its dramatic setting on a steep cliff, surrounded by forested ravines, enhances its defensive and picturesque qualities, making it a prime example of medieval architecture adapted to challenging terrain. The castle complex includes ruins, palaces, and a distinctive stone bridge, blending historical fortification with residential elegance.
Velhartice Castle's history spans over seven centuries, marked by
noble ownership, political intrigue, wartime transformations, and modern
preservation efforts.
Founding and Early Development (1290–1390)
Construction began between 1290 and 1310, initiated by Bohemian nobleman
Bohumil of Budětice as the family seat of the squires of Velhartice. The
project was continued by Bušek the Elder and his son Bušek the Younger,
loyal chamberlains to King and Emperor Charles IV. The first written
mention of the Velhartice settlement dates to 1318, with Bušek of
Velhartice as the initial documented owner. The Bušek family expanded
the castle using their wealth from royal service, establishing a Gothic
core with high ramparts and dual palaces. Bušek the Younger, a close
companion of Charles IV, died around 1371, and his son Jan held the
castle until 1390, when the main branch of the family ended.
Medieval Ownership and Conflicts (1390–1620)
In 1395, Jan the Elder
of Hradec acquired the castle through marriage to Katherine of
Velhartice and purchase from Henry III of Rožmberk. His son Menhart,
High Burgrave of Bohemia and opponent of Regent George of Poděbrady,
famously hid the Bohemian crown jewels here in the 15th century to
thwart Poděbrady's coronation. The lords of Hradec enhanced defenses
with secondary walls, bastions, a watchtower, and farmstead buildings
like a distillery and brewery. After the family line ended with Oldřich
in 1453, Zdeněk Lev of Rožmitál purchased it in 1506, gaining privileges
for mining precious metals. Subsequent owners included Adam Lev of
Rožmitál (who sold it in 1540 to Adam of Šternberk due to debts),
Jindřich Plánský of Žeberk (1589), and Volf Perglar of Perglas (1597).
Perglar's son Václav Otakar's Protestant allegiance led to confiscation
after the Battle of White Mountain in 1620.
Thirty Years' War and
Renaissance Rebuilding (1620–1790s)
During the Thirty Years' War,
Emperor Ferdinand II granted the castle to General Don Balthazar de
Marradas, who sold it in 1628 to Don Martin de Hoeff-Huerta for 55,000
rhinestones. Huerta, a Dutch-Spanish imperial general, remodeled the
castle in late-Renaissance style, adding a new palace wing with arcades
between the southern palace and the Paradise House. Known for aggressive
re-Catholicization, he abolished corvée for locals but was legendary for
ruthlessness. His adopted daughter Anna Maria inherited it in 1638,
selling the indebted estate in 1653 to the Carmelites (incomplete in
source).
Later Ownership and Industrial Use (1790s–1945)
By
the 1790s, the Desfours family owned the castle and established a
paper-making factory in Velhartice. A leather-tanning factory opened in
1882. The last private owner, Prince Josef Windischgrätz, was expelled
to Austria in 1946 after World War II.
Modern Era (1945–Present)
Since 1945, the castle has been state-owned by the Czech Republic.
Restorations have preserved its Gothic and Renaissance elements, with
ongoing efforts to maintain the site as a cultural monument. It now
serves as a popular tourist attraction, highlighting its historical
significance.
Velhartice Castle exemplifies Gothic architecture adapted to rugged
terrain, with later Renaissance modifications. The core forms a steep
triangular layout on a rock spur, surrounded by a 10-meter-high,
over-2-meter-thick wall. It features a double-palace disposition: the
South Palace (integrated into the Renaissance wing) and the North
Palace, or Paradise House, with a D-shaped plan and considerable height.
The Paradise House has narrow pointed windows, slit doorways, and a
Gothic portal.
A standout feature is the massive stone bridge—32
meters long, 3 meters wide, and nearly 10 meters high—with four pointed
arches on cylindrical pillars, connecting the Paradise House to the
Putna Tower (donjon). This bridge, unique in European castle
architecture, allowed for drawbridges and defensive retreats. The Putna
Tower, a bulky prismatic structure with 2.5-meter-thick walls, served as
a residential and defensive tower, accessed via a fall-bridge.
Defenses include a 15th-century rampart with a deep dry moat, gatehouse
with a Gothic portal, and a round bastion. The lower courtyard housed
farmsteads like the double-gabled brewery. Huerta's 17th-century
Renaissance palace, with arcades, was built in the upper courtyard's
east section, incorporating the south Gothic palace. A Gothic chapel and
cylindrical tower are in the oldest part.
The castle's iconic stone bridge and Putna Tower—once a prison during the Thirty Years' War and later explored for treasures, revealing human remains—are legendary. Its romantic ruins and blend of styles make it a symbol of Bohemian heritage, popularized in literature like Jan Neruda's ballad about Charles IV. Culturally, it represents noble power, wartime history, and architectural innovation, protected as a national monument.
Today, Velhartice Castle is well-preserved and open to the public, managed by the National Heritage Institute. Visitors can enjoy two 50-minute guided tours: the Gothic Castle (focusing on ruins and bridge) and the Renaissance Château (palace interiors). A self-guided option explores outdoor areas and an interactive exhibition in the former brewery, such as on the Thirty Years' War. Family-friendly activities include special tours with the "White Lady," large wooden chess, archery, and crossbow shooting in summer. Closed Mondays; check opening hours and fees on the official site. Nearby, a free open-air Museum of Folk Architecture features Šumava region buildings, and local dining options like the Castle Burger at U hradného sládka enhance the experience.