Frýdštejn Castle - Rock Castle with Massive Tower

History of Frýdštejn Castle

Foundation of the Castle

The exact date of the foundation of Frýdštejn Castle is unknown, but the most probable period is the second half of the 14th century. The Pojizeří region had been the property of the powerful Markvatic family since the 13th century. In 1363, the lords of Dražice are mentioned as owners of the area around Hodkovice, and 13 years later, in 1376, Jan II of Bibrštejn is documented.

The Bibrštejn family, residing in Frýdlant, was therefore probably behind the castle's foundation. The castle was built on steep, inaccessible sandstone cliffs that provided natural defense and control over an important route from Turnov to the north along the Jizera River.

First Mention and Early Development (1385)

The first written mention of Frýdštejn comes from 1385, when church sources name Bohuněk, called Puklice of Frýdštejn. The record dates from the reign of King Wenceslaus IV.

Around 1400, the castle was held by the Kamenec family of Střížovice and Čakovice. In 1409, Bohuš of Kováň, an important figure of the Hussite Wars, became the owner of the Frýdštejn estate.

Hussite Siege (1432)

Bohuš of Kováň was originally a Catholic, which during the Hussite Wars led to conflict with the Hussite movement. In August 1432, the castle was besieged by Hussites led by Ota of Loza and Jan Čapek of Sány.

However, Bohuš of Kováň managed to reach an agreement with the Hussites - he pledged not to undertake any hostile actions against them. Later, he even converted to the Calixtines, gaining their support. In 1448, he helped George of Poděbrady conquer Prague.

After Bohuš's death in 1460, Jan Zajíc of Hazmburk became the estate's administrator.

Frequent Change of Owners (15th-16th centuries)

Several owners then succeeded each other at Frýdštejn in rapid succession:

• 1489 - Jiří Berka of Dubá
• 1498 - Vilém Zub of Landštejn
• Jan Dubecký of Dubče
• After 1508 - Jan Chvalovský of Ledec

The Vartenberk Family and End of the Estate (1540-1591)

In 1540, the castle and Frýdštejn estate were purchased by Jan of Vartenberk, who incorporated Frýdštejn into the extensive Vartenberk holdings. His son Adam of Vartenberk participated in the Bohemian estates' rebellion against King Ferdinand I in 1546-47, with fatal consequences.

Adam lost some of his estates in 1547, including Frýdštejn and Český Dub. Both estates were purchased from the king by Jan of Oprštorf (Oppersdorf). However, Jan chose Český Dub as his seat and gradually sold off the Frýdštejn estate, thereby ending the importance of the Frýdštejn estate and of Frýdštejn as a guard castle.

When the Oprštorfs sold the castle to Zikmund II Smiřický of Smiřice in 1591, it was already uninhabitable. Due to its rock location, it was not suitable for conversion into a noble residence, as was common with other castles at that time.

Later Owners (17th-19th centuries)

After the lords of Smiřice, the estate was acquired in 1623 by Albrecht of Waldstein (Wallenstein). After Waldstein's death in 1634, the imperial colonel Count Jan Ludvík Isolani obtained the estate.

One of Isolani's daughters bequeathed the estate to the Catholic Church, which held it until 1838, when it came into the possession of Kamil Rohan.

Castle Preservation and Public Access (1892)

Thanks to its massive construction, the castle survived as a ruin until the 19th century. It was not until 1892 that the Turnov Beautification Society purchased it from the then owners - the Rohan family of Sychrov.

The society had the surviving masonry reinforced and, after necessary safety work, opened the castle to the public. Finds from the period of the castle's habitation, obtained through surveys, are in the collections of the Turnov Museum.

Today, the castle is owned by the Municipality of Frýdštejn, and rescue work is gradually being carried out at considerable expense, aimed at preserving the castle at least in its current form for future generations.

Architecture and Castle Description

Frýdštejn is a typical rock castle, built on steep, inaccessible sandstone cliffs. The castle dominated both toward Hodkovice and especially into the Jizera valley, where the old road from Turnov to the north ran.

In the castle's lower ward was the village of Frýdštejn, originally called Zásada, where there was a demesne farm providing basic sustenance for the castle's inhabitants.

Since there was little space in the castle, the entire castle barrier was drilled through with a series of small chambers and cellars carved into the rock. A chamber carved south of the main tower deserves special attention, where a niche in the wall and an altar suggest that it was once a chapel. The space was used long after the castle was abandoned, as evidenced by the date 1691.

On the height southeast of the castle, popularly called Prakovna, siege fortifications from the time of the Hussite Wars are visible.

Historical Model of the Castle

A unique part of our 3D presentation is the historical model of Frýdštejn Castle created by Ing. Petr Vodička, PhD. The model captures how the castle looked during its heyday before falling into disrepair.

Thanks to 3D scanning of this model, you can compare the current ruin with the castle's original appearance and understand its original layout and extent. The historical model is owned by Turnov Monuments and Tourism and exhibited in the Lomnice nad Popelkou City Museum.

What Does the 3D Model Offer?

Practical Information

Frýdštejn Castle is located less than a kilometer east of the village center and from the bus stop Frýdštejn, náves. It is the northernmost castle ruin in the Liberec Region.

Access:

• From village: On foot less than 1 km from center
• From Malá Skála: 3 km on red trail via Vranov Ridge and Pantheon
• Tourist experience: Access from Malá Skála railway station through ridge areas with beautiful views

Current opening hours and admission fees can be found on the castle's official website.