Wildenfels Castle was built in the late 12th century. From 1602 to 1945 it was owned by Solms-Wildenfels counts. Thanks to its many cultural treasures, the castle is today a national attraction at the foot of the Erzgebirge mountains. These include the castle gallery, banqueting hall, wedding room, former count’s library and various museum rooms. Another highlight is the “Blue Salon”, which was named after its wall decoration of precious blue silk tapestries from the early 18th century.
The Jan Hus Memorial stands at one end of Old Town Square. The huge monument depicts victorious Hussite warriors and Protestants who were forced into exile 200 years after Hus, and a young mother who symbolises national rebirth. The monument was so large that the sculptor designed and built his own villa and studio where the work could be carried out. It was unveiled in 1915 to commemorate the 500th anniversary of Jan Hus' martyrdom. The memorial was designed by Ladislav Šaloun and paid for solely by public donations.
Born in 1369, Hus became an influential religious thinker, philosopher, and reformer in Prague. He was a key predecessor to the Protestant movement of the sixteenth century. In his works he criticized religious moral decay of the Catholic Church. Accordingly, the Czech patriot Hus believed that mass should be given in the vernacular, or local language, rather than in Latin. He was inspired by the teachings of John Wycliffe.