Valečov Castle

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.

Address

Boseň, Czech Republic

Details

Founded: c. 1300
Category: Castles and fortifications in Czech Republic