Benesov nad Ploucnici Castle, Benešov nad Ploučnicí, Czech Republic

The dominating feature of the Benešov nad Ploučnicí town is actually two castles from the 13th century, the Lower and Upper castles. There is a permanent exhibition of Chinese art and day and night tours are available as well as social meetings.

The history of the castle started in the 13th century when a settlement of tradesmen and shopkeepers began under the castle Ostrý. The people were satisfied there, the settlement grew and one day in 1392 Jan from Michalovice named the settlement a town. The son of the owner, Hynek Berka from Dubá, was a hussite antagonist and in 1422 he called together a congress of the antihussite catholic nobility from Northern Bohemia. The Hussites didn´t hesitate to besiege Benešov many times over the next few years.

Since, the town was protected only by a simple wall, a moat and a mound, it was rapidly plundered and burnt out. Then in 1515 the Salhausen family from Míšeň bought the castle. That was the beginning of the rise of the town. The castle was rebuilt and sold many times. In 1945 it became a possession of the state and then in 1956 it was declared a castle of the 1st category. Unfortunately, the castle was destroyed by fire in 1969. It took a couple of years before it was reopened to the public.

References:

ceskosaske-svycarsko.cz

User Reviews

Oliver Liebmann (2 years ago)
The castle looked quite interesting from the outside. But I didn’t go inside

Radek Bania (3 years ago)
In Benešov nad Ploučnicí, a very important complex of two separate independent castle complexes – the Upper and Lower Castles – has been preserved, to which we can add a third piece of unique Renaissance architecture, the adjacent parish church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary.

Petr Mikulčák (3 years ago)
The castle complex is a unique example of architecture from the rebirth of Vladislav Gothic and the Renaissance - the so-called Saxon Renaissance, which is why it rightly ranks among the most important preserved monuments of the Czech Republic. Inside the three accessible castles there is a richly equipped period exhibition mapping the life of the nobility. ?? source: castle chocolate

Sarka Borska (3 years ago)
We went to visit the Lower Castle on the weekend, we were very satisfied with the tour guide's explanation, the exhibits on display and the length of the sightseeing circuit. I recommend a visit, although it is a smaller castle in size and importance, but it is worth a visit

Bohous Bukovjan (4 years ago)
Super

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