- Address: 671 10 Bitov, Czech Republic
- Official website: muzeumznojmo.cz
Zornstein is one of the medieval Czech castles . Once he frightened the enemies with his inaccessibility, power and formidable air. Today, it causes unprecedented interest among tourists. The surviving walls give an opportunity even to the uninitiated to imagine what this castle was during its heyday.
Description
The ruins of the old castle are in the south-west of the Czech Republic , next to the Austrian border. Zornstein was built in the XIV century. The place for its erection was chosen more than successful - a high hill near the Dyji river. The first siege of the castle occurred at the end of the XV century. Defenders held the defense for 10 months, having repelled hundreds of attacks. When the ammunition was over, the soldiers were forced to surrender. So Zornshtein became the property of the commander Jindrich of Kreik.
The second and last siege occurred in 1542. The Turks assaulted the fortress. They failed to capture the castle, but this did not save him from destruction. Since the second half of the XVI century, it began to empty and already in 1612 received the status of an abandoned.
What is interesting about the castle?
First of all, Zornstein attracts attention with its architecture. These walls are still capable of conveying the greatness of the Gothic style in which it was built. In addition, they are so reliable that they seem as if they are ready to repulse the attacks of enemies.
The territory of the castle is completely open to visitors. Along the fortress wall is laid a wooden pavement, along which you can get into any part of the castle. A walk through the courtyard and the Zornstein Tower can take from 2 to 5 hours. Having been saturated with the beauty of the castle, the tourists get into the captivity of the landscapes that surround it. On three sides the fortress bends around the river, and he himself crowns a hill covered with dense forest.
Legends
The medieval castle would not be so attractive if it were not accompanied by exciting legends. The most famous of them can be heard in different interpretations from local residents, but the most common versions are:
- Treasures of Zornstein Castle. During the first siege of the castle the inhabitants of the fortress decided to hide all available values. In one large bag were collected jewelry, money and bullion. The lock well was chosen as a cache. Only a few residents who survived the siege knew about this. One of them, after many years, still pulled the treasure out of the well, but disappeared without a trace on the way home.
- The ghost of Ginek's wife. According to legend, the castle managed to be seized when the defenders mistakenly thought that the enemy had retreated and opened the gates to celebrate the victory. At this time, the troops attacked. During the fighting, Ginek Lichtenburg, the owner of the castle, was killed. His wife saw this terrible sight, standing on the fortress wall, and immediately committed suicide by rushing down. It is said that since then her ghost in a white veil often sits on the wall and looks down.
How to get there?
It's easy to get to Zornshtein, as there is a bus stop for route No. 830 "Bitov, hrad Cornstejn" nearby. If you want to get to the fortress in a rented car , then you should follow the route 40813. The road passes through both bridges that lead to the peninsula with a lock, so you can choose one of them.