Potštejn, Podorlicko Late 13th century Gothic castle
The extensive ruins of Potštejn Castle rank among the most massive Czech castles. Founded in the late 13th century by Půta from the West Bohemian Drslavic family, it was named after him - Půta's Stone (Puttenstein).
In 1339, the castle was made famous by Charles IV himself, who besieged and conquered it in nine weeks. The castle was later owned by the Pernštejn family, who rebuilt it into an imposing fortress with three wall circuits. More information can be found on the official website.
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The massive Gothic castle was built in the late 13th century (probably between 1270-1295) on the site of a prehistoric hillfort. The founder was Půta from the West Bohemian Drslavic family, who colonized the basin of the Divoká Orlice river. The castle was named after its founder - Půta's Stone (Puttenstein in German), which gradually became corrupted to Potštejn.
The first castle most likely spread only over the summit of the hill where the upper castle stands today. It was probably a bergfried-type castle, meaning with a massive residential tower.
In 1312, the castle owner Procek of Potštejn and his son Mikuláš are documented. Mikuláš became one of the greatest opponents of the Luxembourgs in Bohemia and became notorious as a robber knight who conducted raiding expeditions from the castle.
In 1339, the castle was therefore besieged and conquered by the young Margrave Charles (future Emperor Charles IV). In his own autobiography, he writes: "Because he rose up against me and the King of Bohemia, and because much robbery was committed from there. And although it was considered impregnable, I conquered it in nine weeks..."
Mikuláš of Potštejn was killed during the siege, the castle was seized and demolished. Charles IV ordered the tower and walls to be torn down. In 1341, King John returned most of the property to Mikuláš's sons, but kept Potštejn for himself.
In 1356, Charles IV bought Potštejn from Mikuláš's descendants and proceeded with its restoration. The castle was to become the center of the royal Potštejn domain. The work was directed by burgrave Půta the Elder of Častolovic. The castle was expanded to include, among other things, an economic building. Before 1360, the existence of a castle chapel is documented for the first time.
In the following decades, both Charles IV and Wenceslas IV mortgaged the castle to various nobles. In 1399, it was unsuccessfully besieged by the troops of the baronial union that rose up against King Wenceslas IV.
In 1429, King Sigismund mortgaged the castle to Půta the Younger of Častolovic, the main opponent of Hussitism in eastern Bohemia. The castle was soon besieged by East Bohemian Orphans and conquered after a six-month siege.
After Půta's death, the castle passed to Princess Anna of Osvětim and later to Hynek Krušina of Lichtenburg. In 1454, he ceded all rights to George of Poděbrady, who owned the neighboring Litice domain. The importance of Potštejn declined during this period.
In 1497, the castle became the property of the powerful Pernštejn family. Vilém of Pernštejn initiated an expensive reconstruction of the castle in the first quarter of the 16th century into a residential and administrative center of the Pernštejn domain in eastern Hradec region.
Vilém of Pernštejn created one of the most impressive fortification systems of his time:
The walls reached an average width of 1.4 m and height of 6 m with walkway and battlements. 43 manor personnel lived at the castle and in the castle town.
After Vilém, his son Vojtěch of Pernštejn took over the castle. From his time, a code for the Potštejn official with a nominal list of employees and their salaries has been preserved. First place was held by burgrave Jan Okrouhlický with a salary of 40 scores of groschen.
However, the Pernštejn family faced financial problems. In 1556, the combined Potštejn-Litice domain was sold to Rhineland Count Palatine Ernest, who divided it after two years and sold it again.
The newly defined Potštejn domain was acquired by Václav Hrzán of Harasov. His son Adam Šťastný carried out a partial Renaissance renovation of the upper castle, involving Italian builder Burian Gozzi. However, the reconstruction contributed to growing indebtedness.
After 1603, the castle's importance wanes. The so-called Dvoreček in Kostelec nad Orlicí became the main seat, and only part of the administrative staff remained at the castle. In 1629, the domain was sold due to high debt to imperial general Kašpar of Gramb.
The castle remained in the possession of the Záruba of Hustířany family for more than 100 years. It gradually deteriorated, but as late as 1681, chronicler Bohuslav Balbín described it as habitable.
In 1746, the castle was acquired by Silesian emigrant Jan Ludvík Harbuval Chamaré, who had a new château built in the town. His wife Anna Barbora of Sanning had the Chapel of St. John of Nepomuk built in the eastern part of the upper castle between 1750-1752.
In 1754, Anna Barbora also had a Way of the Cross with fourteen stations built from the town to the castle, starting from the Church of St. Lawrence. The culmination of activities was the construction of the Holy Stairs Chapel between 1762-1766, the best-preserved building of the entire castle complex.
According to legend, the robber knight Mikuláš hid a great treasure in the castle's underground. His son Jan Antonín Harbuval Chamaré believed this legend and searched in vain for 35 years for the hidden riches.
His hopes were encouraged by a mysterious Gothic inscription on one of the stones in the castle palace. The count interpreted the Latin text as an encrypted instruction to the treasure and had dozens of meters of corridors dug under the castle, which led to the devastation of part of the masonry.
The story inspired Alois Jirásek to write the historical novella "The Treasure" (1881), which was later filmed. Archaeologists today consider the existence of the treasure improbable; the most valuable find so far has been a tile collection.
At the end of the 19th century, the castle became a popular excursion destination. More significant preservation work did not begin until the 1930s, when the castle complex was acquired by the Club of Czechoslovak Tourists, but work was stopped during the occupation.
After 1989, the castle became the property of the municipality of Potštejn, which opened it to the public in 1994. At the same time, extensive gradual conservation of the masonry and overall modification of the area began. The castle is voluntarily cared for by a group of mostly local seniors called "Dědkostav" (Grandpa Construction).
Potštejn Castle is located on a forested conical hill southeast of the village of Potštejn in the Rychnov nad Kněžnou district in eastern Bohemia. It dominates the central part of the Podorlicko region.
The castle has been open to the public since 1994. The complex features an exhibition in the fourth gate documenting the castle's history, refreshments, and souvenir shopping. The municipality of Potštejn also offers the possibility of holding wedding ceremonies in the castle grounds.
Current opening hours and admission fees can be found on the official website of the municipality of Potštejn.
From nearby Litice, you can reach Potštejn by train through a romantic tunnel in Kletná hill, or by hiking and cycling trail through the picturesque valley along the Divoká Orlice river. In the town of Potštejn, you can also visit the newly renovated Potštejn Château (1749) with many attractions.
