Vlčtejn Castle

Vlčtejn was first mentioned in 1284 as Wildenstein due to the bizzare high rock which it was built on. At first just a small, mostly wooden fort, it was widely rebuilt in the 14th century into a stone castle. It was a far, but important county owned by the wealthy Rosenberg family, and stood in the center of many historical events.

1421 seized by Hussites due to the owner deserting to their enemy, it stayed in the hands of a Hussite leader even after the movement was defeated, and the owner (unable to retake it) had to buy it back. But in 1444 the Hussite came back with his private army, and took the castle using a hole in the walls, which he prepared and then masked before he previously left. The rich elite from Pilsen engaged a local lord, which should move the Hussite to leave the castle through diplomacy, but his initiative officer, who had to deliver the message, directly besieged the castle with his troiops, which scared the Hussite so much that he agreed to leave. But soon after, another lords sent an army to help return the castle to the heirs of the last official owner, and the castle was given to the Hussite, who became it´s lord for the third time. After this a small civil war broke out between the two parties. But a much larger conflict broke out in 1450 between the king and an alliance of South Bohemian lords, which was ended at Vlčtejn, where the peace was concluded.

Owners often changed in the next 200 years, it was not an important strongpoint at the Thirty year war, as it is not mentioned in military listings of forts, it was then possibly abandoned.

The ruined castle was partially reconstructed in roman style in 1822, and became a recreational place for the owners, but it was not maintained and in 1845 already became a ruin again. The stone from lower parts was used for the bulding of a nearby imperial road, so the walls and industrial buildings vanished. The remainder of the castle was conserved through the 20th Century, the central palace still stands and is freely accessible.

References:

• Thomas T.

Address

Vlčtejn, Blovice, Czech Republic

Details

Founded: 13th century
Category: Castles and fortifications in Czech Republic