Přimda, Tachov District Founded 1121 National Cultural Monument
Přimda Castle is the oldest known stone castle in the Czech Republic. This early example of Romanesque castle architecture was built in 1121 during the reign of Duke Vladislav I. The ruins tower above the town of Přimda in the Bohemian Forest at a summit elevation of 848 m above sea level. The castle served as a guard post on the important Nuremberg road at one of the border crossings into the Empire and also as a state prison for the Přemyslids.
In collaboration with the Museum of the Bohemian Forest in Tachov and archaeologist Tomáš Mařík, we bring you a unique interactive 3D presentation of Přimda Castle with two time periods - a reconstruction of the castle's appearance in the 16th century and the current ruins. The model contains 44 points of interest with detailed information and 360° panoramic photographs. Change the time period using the first icon in the upper right or by long-pressing the left mouse button.
Want to learn even more about the castle? Read the detailed history of Přimda Castle by archaeologist Tomáš Mařík.
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Přimda is the oldest known stone castle in the Czech Republic. Its origins date back to 1121, when according to Kosmas' Chronicle, "some Germans" built a castle within the Czech borders in the forest. The builder may have been Děpolt II of Vohburg, administrator of the neighboring German Northern March and builder of Cheb. Soon after completion, the castle was conquered by Duke Vladislav I, who considered its construction a violation of his sovereign rights. The castle thus became ducal property and served as a guard post on the important Nuremberg road at one of the border crossings into the Empire.
From the beginning, Přimda also served as a state prison. During the turbulent times of the 12th century, future Duke Soběslav II was imprisoned here twice for years by his cousin Vladislav II. From his first imprisonment, Soběslav was freed by his supporters who raided the castle, killed the burgrave, and threw him into prison. In total, Soběslav spent 14 years of his life at Přimda. In 1249, young Přemysl (future King Přemysl Otakar II) also experienced imprisonment at Přimda after the unsuccessful rebellion against his father King Wenceslaus I.
As the importance of the Nuremberg road grew in the 12th and 13th centuries, Přimda was rebuilt and strengthened during the reign of Soběslav I. In the 13th century, the castellan of Přimda was among the most important offices in the Přemyslid state. During the 14th century, the castle became the center of about 15 Chod villages, whose inhabitants - the Chods - were obliged to guard the border. At the same time, tolls were collected here on one of the branches of the Nuremberg road.
In 1336, during the disputes of John of Luxembourg with Emperor Louis IV of Bavaria, the castle was attacked by a German army. The besiegers overcame the outer fortifications but had to retreat after the castle garrison set fire to the wooden parts of the walls. During the Hussite Wars, Přimda was among the reliable strongholds of the Catholic side. In 1429 it was unsuccessfully besieged again, this time by the Hussite army, which destroyed the town below the castle but did not capture the massive walls.
In 1454, the Švamberks acquired Přimda in pledge, keeping it until 1592. In 1548, brothers Adam and Jindřich of Švamberk divided the estate and castle - Adam received the so-called upper castle, while Jindřich got the lower castle (both were separated by a longitudinal rock ridge). Under the Švamberks in the 16th century, Přimda deteriorated and even partial repairs and some new farm buildings did not improve the castle's condition. Some parts of the castle were even demolished. The Chods complained to the ruler about the castle's dilapidation and the "tunneling" of funds intended for its repairs.
After the death of both brothers in 1592, Rudolf II acquired the castle with the estate and preferred to sell this property. In 1609, the castle was already listed as deserted, ruined, and abandoned. Subsequently, the ruins changed owners several times until in 1675 they came into the possession of Count Jan Václav Novohradský of Kolovrat, who made the nearby Velké Dvorce the center of the estate. In 1711, lightning struck the residential tower and subsequently its southwest part collapsed to ground level.
The castle on the dominant summit consisted of a tall prismatic tower with a square floor plan (about 16 × 16 m), the so-called donjon, built from granite ashlars. It had a residential function - amenities included a fireplace and a privy (the oldest preserved in the Czech lands). In the High Middle Ages, the castle was further expanded, a stone wall was built around the donjon, and two more towers were constructed as part of the defense system.
Supplementary structures of the castle were three guard towers on Gibbet Hill (Šibeniční vrch), near today's meteorological station. From there, movement on the road leading through the Přimda pass was monitored. The foundations of these guard towers were preserved until recent times. Another advanced structure of the castle was a building in the location called Backofen under the slope of Přimda near the road leading to the border.
The first repairs of the castle ruins were carried out in 1879 or 1880 under Filip Count of Kolovrat. Further work, this time of considerably greater scope, took place in 1919-1923. They mainly concerned the tower, which was modified in many places to its current form. In 1962, the ruins of Přimda Castle were declared a national cultural monument by the government.
On July 28, 1989, part of the wall collapsed at the castle after an earthquake. Three twelve-year-old boys were buried, one of whom died from his injuries. In the period 2001–2010, the ruins were statically secured and comprehensively restored. The state castle is managed by the National Heritage Institute and is open to the public.
The ruins of Přimda Castle are located on the top of a rocky ridge (848 m above sea level) above the town of Přimda in the Tachov district, in the northern part of the Bohemian Forest. The castle is managed by the National Heritage Institute and is open to the public. From the summit, there is an excellent view of the surrounding western Bohemia. For visitors, there is an official castle website with current information on opening hours and admission fees.
More information about the castle's history and archaeological surveys can be found in the detailed historical study by archaeologist Tomáš Mařík or at the Museum of the Bohemian Forest in Tachov, which participated in the research and documentation of the monument.
Krosapp Imagery
3D scanning/modeling and software implementation
Tomáš Mařík
Archaeologist at the Museum of Chod Region in Domažlice
Author of texts and descriptions
Museum of the Bohemian Forest in Tachov
Owner of the historical model
Jan Bednář
Creator of the historical model
