Valečov Castle, Boseň, Czech Republic

The wooden castle was founded in the rocks by the Valečov family after 1300. Later, because the family belonged to Jan Žižka z Trocnov's followers, the castle was conquered and burned in 1439 by Jindřich z Vartenberka during the Hussite Wars. It was then gradually rebuilt with stones. The castle only remained there for a few years until the arrival of the Prague campaign in 1443-1444. Several years later, in 1472, Vaněk z Valečova lived there, serving as the chamberlain of royal cities during the reign of Jiří z Poděbrad. Then, the castle owners quickly changed, until the powerful Valdštejn family acquired it with the entire estate in the early 17th century. The nobility did not live there; it served as their administrative center and was reported as abandoned in 1652.

Even in the 19th century, some local poor people resided in some of the rock chambers. However, the inhabitants were eventually forcibly evicted by an order of the district governorship in Mnichovo Hradiště on October 5, 1892.

Since 1994, the castle has been owned by the municipality of Boseň, on whose territory it is located.

The castle was comprised of a dominant core on three sandstone ridges with two outer courtyards and an extensive fortified area with a large number of rock chambers, originally used as winter quarters for Hussite field armies. A series of chambers and an access tunnel to the summit plateau were carved into the rock blocks beneath the castle core. A wooden or half-timbered Old Palace stood on the middle block. The surviving New Palace had two bays and an oriel window on the courtyard side. During the 16th century, when two owners lived in the castle, both palaces were modified to have their own entrance from the courtyard.

Several smaller buildings stood near the castle building, inside the walls, with a larger one serving as a dining hall and lodging for women. Additionally, there were several dwellings carved into the rocks. Under the walls was a lower castle with a series of buildings and dozens of rock chambers.

Wieskirche

The Pilgrimage Church of Wies (Wieskirche) is an oval rococo church, designed in the late 1740s by Dominikus Zimmermann. It is located in the foothills of the Alps in the municipality of Steingaden.

The sanctuary of Wies is a pilgrimage church extraordinarily well-preserved in the beautiful setting of an Alpine valley, and is a perfect masterpiece of Rococo art and creative genius, as well as an exceptional testimony to a civilization that has disappeared.

The hamlet of Wies, in 1738, is said to have been the setting of a miracle in which tears were seen on a simple wooden figure of Christ mounted on a column that was no longer venerated by the Premonstratensian monks of the Abbey. A wooden chapel constructed in the fields housed the miraculous statue for some time. However, pilgrims from Germany, Austria, Bohemia, and even Italy became so numerous that the Abbot of the Premonstratensians of Steingaden decided to construct a splendid sanctuary.

Richard Baráth (2 years ago)
Fortress built in sandstone. Amazing.

Jaroslav Padevet (2 years ago)
Very special place to visit, even when the place are ruins, it's possible to imagine the spirit of old times. Close to Prague.

Ondrej Muskat (5 years ago)
It doesn't look so interesting from outside but the castle ruims are very nice. the dungeons and order rooms that have been carved in the rock are narrow and shows long history of the settlement. even the owner or the guy who runs that place live in a hut beneath the ruins and it looks kinda cool. It's worth it.

Oleksandr Shumeiko (8 years ago)
just a ruins, there are spots nearby which are more nice to visit

Karol Szymik (8 years ago)
Splendid medieval castle constructed within bare rocks

Valečov Castle

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Wieskirche