Roštejn

Roštejn

About 10 km north of the city Telč, is the castle of Roštejn (okres Jihlava, Vysočina region). In the surrounding hilly and wooded countryside of the Jihlava hills, belonging to the Javořické highlands is hidden so that you can see only the top part of his tower.
For the castle was chosen granite rocky ridge. Hard rock did not allow to create a really valuable field adjustment, trench here we have a unfinished and only in a hint. Selected the castle klippe is low, but it has fairly vertical walls, also my flat is rather extensive, in length is 65 metres and its greatest width is 16 meters. With the construction of the began probably sometime after the year 1348, and the first written mention we have of the year 1353, where it is mentioned as burgrave Martin of Mutic (Mutišova ?). Was the property of the lords of Hradec, who was built to control the important Lovětínský way between Pounding and Batelovem. Got the name of Rosenstein (Pink stone). Other well-known purkrabími 14. century were Mareš, Vojko and Jan of Hodic.
The castle consisted of two parts. Own the top of the castle and the forecastle. From the forecastle to have survived the slight remains of the foundations of the two stone towers. In the vicinity is also a number of the larger stones, which probably originate from these towers and other structures (walls, etc.). Access via the forecastle from the north was the cover has a high slim bergfritem about the shape of irregular sedmibokého prism, which reaches a height of 47.6 m and a axes of 9.3 and 8.1 m Has a blunt cutting edge in the direction of approach, and that is for us unique. The very entry into the premises of the upper castle was located in the wall west of the tower in the form of a gothic gateway with a pointed arch, which has been broken into the wall. The access to the bergfritu, was possible of the floors of the adjacent two-storey palace, and that by using the drawbridge. This two to trojtraktový palace was located in the southeast part of the castle. Had a few arkýřových prevétů, but these were later abolished, however, are still recognizable. The corner was reinforced tesanými blocks. Access to the palace was by an outside staircase, until later in the framework of its extension got staircase extension at the tower. West of bergfritu was probably a small tower. The whole area consisting of towers, walls of force around 2 m and the palace made the courtyard of virtually trojúhelníkovitém the shape and dimensions of 53 x 48 m. the Area of the courtyard was probably at that time mostly composed of wooden buildings.
The castle changed often their owners and several times got into the pledge.
During the hussite wars the castle was besieged by the year 1423 and at least came on her forecastle, which the hussites conquer managed. However, it is not known whether with the conquest of the castle itself hussites succeeded or not.
Crucial the owner of the castle was Zacharias of Hradec. It left refit in the 60's. (70. ?) years 16. century, as well as the castle in Telč. South of the towers had another story built onto the living rooms and the main two-story building in the renaissance style, which is slightly předsunuta into the courtyard. The elder dvoutraktovému palace put on its the southeast part of the extended staircase, above which is the open arcade loggia. The palace has undergone or any other modifications. It's not tall gothic tower on the northwest corner was knocked down (or for the most part) and in its place was built a renaissance chapel with a number of gotizujících elements. The chapel is down the hallway associated with renaissance building, which is adjacent to the palace, this corridor was created by the enlargement of the castle gallery. Bypass is backed up to the renaissance pillars to ensure its stability. The interiors were simple yet impressive form in the form of painted and carved beamed ceilings, wall paintings and fireplaces. The castle gained the shape of a renaissance hunting castle. For this reason, then put it around the top of Zechariah to build the field of an area larger than 300 ha. Then your function was filling up to the year 1945.
Of the year 1602 castle purchased the slavata family of Chlum and Kosumberk. While the thirty years war in the history of the castle apparently not particularly hit, followed later baroque adaptations. Certainly them was the decoration of the so-called erbovního of the hall, where is situated nearly 700 coats of arms of the nobility and the cities, but many have been insensitive fixed, so that their correct heraldic destination it is today virtually impossible. Furthermore, he received the bishop's room wall decor and probably gave do new stucco altar in the chapel. Eustacha.
Of the year 1691 castle acquired Lichtenstejnové of Kastelkornu. However, even owned it until the year 1796, when its new owners became Podstatští – Lichtensteinové, has from this period of no news. You more or less does not particularly intervene in the form of the castle until the year 1904, where it was to a Small observation deck built to the building of the lodge and the castle was used as the centre of the forest report. Slightly older are the two murals that recall school supplies. The castle was in the first two decades of the 20th. century tourists visited the site, but fell into disrepair. However, this situation would not be serious, if in the summer of the second year of war the Great war, i.e. 1915, after a lightning strike to the tower, it burned down almost the entire east of the residential part of the castle. Although in the years 1923 to 1928 got a temporary enclosure, his condition further worsened, and this development continued after the nationalisation of 1945. The really extensive building repairs to the castle was from the year 1958, in 1969 then came under the Highlands Museum in Jihlava, in whose administration is located today. He was momentarily made available to the public, but soon was again arrested, had undergone another restoration work in the years 1977 to 1981 and was 1. may 1981 open to the public. There are currently two common guided tours, which sometimes overlap, and particularly you can see the tower, which provides scenic views of the landscape.

Sources:
Jaros, Of. – Vaníčková, From. – Vaníček, To. 2003. The castle of Roštejn : a guide. Jihlava.
Placek, M. 2001: an Illustrated encyclopedia of moravian castles castles and fortresses. Prague.
Prokop, And. 1904: Die Markgrafschaft Moravia in Kvnstgeschichtlicher Beziehvng. Wien..

Interiors.