Rosenberg Castle Czech Republic. Rožmberk nad Vltavou

27.09.2021

Castles and fortresses of the Czech Republic

Castles of South Bohemia

Gothic medieval castle Rožmberk nad Vltavou

In the very south of the Czech Republic, near the Austrian border, there is one of the most mysterious Czech castles - Rožmberk nad Vltavou. Surrounded by dense forests, this Gothic castle blends so organically into the surrounding landscape that it seems to be a natural continuation of the spurs of the Šumava Mountains that dominate it. There are many legends associated with this Gothic Czech castle, the most famous of which I present here. Well, if you want to know the rest and admire the perfect Gothic appearance of Rožmberk Castle - come yourself, you definitely won’t be disappointed!

STORY

The first mention of this Czech castle, which at that time bore the German name Rosenberg ("rose mountain"), dates back to 1250, during the reign of the Czech king Wenceslas I. Apparently, this fortress served to control an important trade route from the Czech Republic to the rich Upper Danube lands Austria. Subsequently, this Czech castle changed its owners several times; in the 16th century, the Gothic style of the castle was partially replaced by the Renaissance style, until in 1619, during the Thirty Years' War, it was captured by the troops of the Austrian emperor under the command of General Karl Bunaventure Buka. The general liked Rozmberk Castle so much that he begged it from the emperor as a reward for the successful conduct of hostilities.

This Czech castle remained in the ownership of the Bukoys until nationalization in 1945. The most noticeable mark on the history of the castle was left by Jiri Jan Jindřich Bukoy (1814-1883), a famous collector. Under him, the castle was reconstructed in the neo-Gothic style that we see today. He also collected impressive collections of works of art and turned the Czech castle of Rožmberk into a museum.

LEGENDS AND TRADES

White lady

Perhaps the most famous ghost of Czech castles is the White Lady (or the Lady in White, as she is also called). This ghost lives in the Czech castle of Rožmberk nad Vltavou. Once upon a time, in time immemorial, Baron Rožmberk lived in this Czech castle. He was a cunning and greedy man, who did not shy away from any means in order to replenish his already considerable fortune.

Baron Rožmberk's main assistant was a monk who compiled all the documents for his master and thereby helped him seize more and more lands and valuables. But one day the baron decided to seize another tasty morsel by unjust means - a plot of land. But the monk’s relatives lived on this land, and he refused to draw up documents. For this, Baron Rozmberk executed the monk. Dying, he cursed the baron himself and all his descendants.

And the baron had his only daughter, Perkhta, completely obedient to his will, whom he tried to marry off as profitably as possible. Finally, a suitable party was found in the person of Count Liechtenstein. They played a wedding, the newlyweds went to the groom's palace. But the greedy baron refused to give the promised dowry. Without hesitation, the young husband sent his wife back to her father. And so the unfortunate Perkhta lived her whole life in her father’s castle Rožmberk, cursing her ill-fated fate. And already in old age, many years later, the husband who had rejected her came to her to ask for forgiveness, but Perkhta refused him. And then Count Liechtenstein once again cursed the Rožmberk family.

Apparently, these curses had some power, because Perchta remained to live in this Czech castle, now in the form of the ghost of the White Lady, named after the color of her dress. You can see her quite often. They say that the sleeves of the White Lady's dress have the ability to change color - if the sleeves are white, then the one who saw the ghost will have a wedding. Red sleeves mean there will be a fire, but if they are black, big trouble awaits.

There is also a portrait of the White Lady in the Czech castle of Rožmberk nad Vltavou. And on the portrait there is an inscription made using a mysterious font with the comment: “Read what is written here and you will become the owner of fabulous wealth.” Many cryptographers have tried to unravel the mystery of the inscription, but so far to no avail.

Bronze elephant

WHAT TO SEE

After admiring the unforgettable grandeur of the white stone walls of this Czech castle, having a good walk around, don’t forget about the interesting things that are inside. In addition to the White Lady and the bronze elephant, within the walls of the Czech castle of Rozmberk nad Vltavou there are wonderful collections of porcelain, weapons, paintings and other art objects, collected by one of the last owners of the castle, Jiri Jan Jindřich Bukoy, in the 19th century. In the courtyard of the Rožmberk nad Vltavou castle there is a Museum of Torture, one of the most original in the Czech Republic - anyone can try themselves both as an executioner and as a victim.

For ghost hunters and simply lovers of the exotic, there is a very interesting excursion, held by the Ghostbusters Club in the Czech castle of Rožmberk. For a symbolic 120 CZK you will be given a real night excursion to the ancestral castle of Perchty. Even if the ghost does not make itself felt, the excursion will not leave you indifferent - it is a whole show, the main participants of which are the guides themselves, dressed in costumes of heroes of popular Czech legends. During a fascinating journey into the past, you can visit Perkhta’s bedroom, explore the castle’s state rooms, basements, torture room and witness heartbreaking family dramas played out by actors. Unfortunately, this excursion is only available in the summer on Saturdays and Sundays and three times a night (excursions start at 21.00, 22.00, 23.00). By the way, in addition to Rozmberk nad Vltavou, the White Lady also appears in Cesky Krumlov, Jindrichov Hradec, Telče and Trebon.

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

Getting there by car from České Budejovice is easy - just go onto the highway E55(3) in the direction of Plana, Veleshin ( Plana, Velesin), after 37 kilometers turn right onto the road 163 in the direction of Vyssi Brod, after 7 kilometers another right turn is now onto the road 160 . Another 4 kilometers and you are in Rožmberk nad Vltavou. You park in one of the many parking lots and walk 500 meters following the signs to Rožmberk nad Vltavou Castle.

A bus service between České Budejovice and Rožmberk nad Vltavou is organized with a transfer in the city where another famous Czech castle is located - České Krumlov. If you choose this method of transportation, I recommend seeing this Czech castle. Here bus schedule"You have to get off at the stop" Rožmberk nad Vltavou, name"("square") and then follow the signs to the Rožmberk nad Vltavou castle:

Bus	Ceske Budejovice	Arrival	Transfer	Bus	Departure	Rožmberk nad Vltavou
330020 34			Cesky Krumlov	330065 9
320030 17				330002 21
133109 9			Cesky Krumlov	330065 17
330020 40			Cesky Krumlov	330065 25

The ticket price is 64 CZK, just in case here is the schedule in the opposite direction:

Bus

Rožmberk nad Vltavou

Arrival

Transfer

Rozmberk Castle, Czech Republic March 28th, 2014

Rožmberk Castle is located in Southern Bohemia a few kilometers from Austria in the town of Rožmberk nad Vltavou, where 369 people live.
Perhaps I liked this castle the most, although it is not striking in its appearance and does not have such a mysterious park as.
What's so special about it? Let's watch.

The first mention of this Czech castle, which at that time bore the German name Rosenberg ("rose mountain"), dates back to 1250, during the reign of the Czech king Wenceslas I. Apparently, the fortress served to control the important trade route from the Czech Republic to Austria, since is on the way from Cesky Krumlov to Linz.

The castle complex consisted of two structures: the lower and upper fortresses. However, after the fire of 1522, all that remained of the buildings of the upper fortress was the Jacobinka Tower - a separate watchtower. And in the photo you can see both the tower and the fact that the two parts of the castle differ from each other.
The decoration of the Lower Fortress during the reconstruction of 1556 was made in the Renaissance style in the spirit of Italy. However, already in the 17th century, the Rožmberk dynasty again modernized the castle, giving it a romantic Gothic appearance. In its image, Rožmberk Castle is a small copy of Krumlov Castle, which was also at one time the property of this rich family.

The Vltava is a river that originates in the south of the Czech Republic and which we see in Prague

While we were walking up to the castle, it started to snow. These places are located in the Sumava Mountains, so it snowed a lot there. During one of the nights that we were in South Bohemia, there was probably a meter of snow!

Here is the castle itself. It is here that the most famous Czech ghost lives - the White Lady (White Lady).
In 1429, Ulrich Rozmberk, the then owner of the castle, gave birth to a daughter, who was named Perchta. The girl's father gave her away when she was 20 years old and forced her into marriage. Her husband was the nobleman Jan Lichtenstein, who was counting on the Rozmberks' fortune. And the bride’s father hoped for Ian’s political connections. But their plans were not destined to come true. The husband did not love the unfortunate Perkhta and treated her extremely poorly. And his mother and sisters loved to make fun of the girl. When Jan Liechtenstein died in 1476, he asked Perchta for forgiveness. But she refused him. And then he exclaimed: “So be damned!” When 3 years had passed, Perkhta died, but could not leave the earth. Apparently, the words of the curse worked. She wanders around the ancestral castle of Rožmberk in a white robe with a rattling bunch of keys. That is why she was called the “White Lady”.
The white lady does not harm anyone, she is a good ghost. According to legends, if she changes her clothes, something will happen soon. One day she appeared in a red robe, and after some time there was a major fire in the castle.

They say that night excursions are also organized here - this is a whole show, the main participants of which are the guides themselves, dressed in costumes of heroes of popular Czech legends. During a fascinating journey into the past, you can visit Perkhta’s bedroom, explore the castle’s state rooms, basements, torture room and witness heartbreaking family dramas played out by actors. The excursion is available only in summer on Saturdays and Sundays and three times per evening (excursions start at 21.00, 22.00, 23.00).

There is also a portrait of the White Lady somewhere in the castle. And on the portrait there is an inscription made using a mysterious font with the comment: “Read what is written here and you will become the owner of fabulous wealth.” Many cryptographers have tried to unravel the mystery of the inscription, but so far to no avail.

I found the following information about this elephant:
“They say that if you stroke his trunk, then peace, love and tranquility will come to the family. Well, if you climb on his back...” Then fantasize yourself =)
31

In the castle you can climb the tower and explore the surrounding area. In general, I think that if there is an opportunity to climb somewhere, then you should always do it. And if there is no opportunity, you need to look for it =)
32

The castle courtyard is visible (where the elephant stands):
35

Along with the famous Krumlov Castle, the family residence of the Rosenberg dynasty, or, in Czech, Rožmberk, is especially popular among tourists. This lordly family was the personification of the Czech aristocracy - its descendants occupied the highest places in the country's hierarchy and played a large role in its history until the 17th century, being very close to the royal court.

Rožmberk or the Rosenberg Palace was built around 1240-1250, when this family began to reign supreme over the feudal lands of South Bohemia. Not far from Krumlov is the town of Rozmberk nad Vltavou, where the castle was founded a long time ago by Vitek from the town of Prcice - that was the name of the founder of the famous family. When the dynasty gained power, powerful fortress walls were built around the mansion. And soon, when the line of their relatives, the Vitkovichs, was cut short, the family completely moved to Krumlov - it became the capital of their lands for three long centuries.

The castle in Rozmberk all this time existed as if on the periphery of the state. It slowly passed from hand to hand, became the subject of some property disputes, pledges and gambling debts, but after 1612 its permanent owner was determined: he became one of the military leaders of the imperial army, Count Karl Bonaventure Buqua, whose descendants lost such valuable property only in 1945 Then, after the end of World War II and the transformation of Czechoslovakia into a socialist republic, all palaces, mansions and the like were taken from their owners and requisitioned for the benefit of the state.

Rožmberk Castle is built on a high hill above the Vltava River, making it visible from anywhere in the surrounding lands. Against the backdrop of dense bushes that cover the slopes of the hill, its white walls and roofs covered with gray tiles stand out.

This combination of colors gives the castle an elegant, albeit somewhat austere look. But it immediately becomes clear that this is the residence of a noble family with a long history. After one of the reconstructions of Rožmberk, several wings were added - they do not harmonize very well with the main part of the building due to different materials and colors, but they are also very interesting from an architectural point of view.

Nowadays Rožmberk exists as a cultural site. The authorities have seriously worked on restoring its historical appearance and interior design, as well as on restoring authentic furniture from the 18th-19th centuries. Ekov. Nowadays it is an architectural monument, part of which is occupied by a torture museum - a very extravagant exhibition where you can even try on the role of a criminal thrown into dark dungeons and under interrogation.

Inside the castle there is also an art gallery, and also a collection of remarkable sculptures, and the exhibits of these collections are associated with local legends. The first says that one of the paintings (“The White Lady”) contains a code, and the person who solves it is destined to become fabulously rich. Another myth says that if you stroke the bronze trunk of an elephant statue, your family life will be successful.

Rožmberk Castle is one of the most interesting attractions in Rožmberk nad Vltavou. This town can't boast large sizes, and can be visited as part of a trip to Cesky Krumlov, since settlements are very close to each other, and even their history and atmosphere are largely similar.

Rozmberk Castle was founded in the first half of the 13th century by a representative of the noble Vitkovic family, Vok Prcic, who later became Vok I Rozmberk. Soon the new castle became the administrative center of his lands. In 1259, Vok founded the Cistercian monastery of Višši Brod nearby, giving it part of his possessions. In 1302, Vok's descendants inherited Cesky Krumlov (after the dynasty of Pans from Krumlov was interrupted), making it their main place of residence.

In 1420, Oldřich II Rožmberk was forced to mortgage Volsi Castle to the Austrians in order to find funds to raise an army against the Hussites. Later, the Rozmberks bought the castle, but in 1465 they mortgaged it again. This time the Lobkowitz family, but, as in the first case, having settled the financial problems, they managed to pay off the deposit. In 1522, the Upper Castle (the original fortress) was almost completely destroyed by fire. Only the main tower survived.

In 1600, last chapter The Rozmberk family, Petr Vok, transferred the estate and castle to his nephew Jan Zrinski, who owned it until 1612. Then it was inherited by the Rožmberk relatives, the Švamberki. After the defeat of the uprising of the Czech estate (1618-20), the Schwamberk possessions were confiscated by the Habsburg Empire. Emperor Ferdinand II granted Rožmberk to the main architect of his victory, Field Marshal Charles Bonaventure de Buqua, the military leader who commanded the imperial army in the decisive battle on White Mountain, after which the defeated Czech Protestants practically ceased resistance.

Although the main residence of the new owners was Nove Grade, they transformed the Gothic Rožmberk into a presentable Renaissance residence. In 1840-1857, the castle was rebuilt in the neo-Gothic style that became fashionable in the 19th century. During the reconstruction, a gallery of the Crusaders and new staircases appeared in the castle. The interiors were filled with various antique furniture. At the end of perestroika, the Lower Castle began to be used only for representative purposes. Soon one of the first public museums in the Czech Republic was opened there. New living quarters and an English park were placed approximately in the place where the Upper Castle was previously located.

The theme of the museum is divided into two parts. One is dedicated to the founders of the castle Rožmberk, the other to the subsequent owners, the Counts of Bucquois. Visitors to the castle are reminded of the time of Rožmberk by the decoration of the facades, made in the Renaissance style, and the beautiful picturesque decorations of the interiors. Buquoy's heritage is represented by interiors designed in the romantic neo-Gothic style. This includes an entrance hall with a richly decorated wooden staircase, a gallery of the Crusaders, with portraits and coats of arms of knights presented in it, and an armory with a collection of weapons and armor from various periods of history. The samples of antique furniture housed there were specially made for the museum by experienced carpenters.

The castle's collection of paintings includes works by famous Czech artists Karel Skreta, Jan Kupecký and Norbert Grund, as well as portraits of historical figures. Among them, special attention is drawn to the portrait of the daughter of the famous historical figure from the Rožmberk family, Oldřich II, Perchta Rožmberk, who is associated with the mysterious “White Lady” (the ghost of a girl appearing in the Rožmberk family castles).

Guests of the castle can also get acquainted with the everyday environment and aristocratic life of the Counts of Buqua. Explore their private apartments, dining room, study, salon and billiard room. 200 steps lead to the very high point castle, to the top of the English Tower. From its height, magnificent romantic landscapes open up, the Vltava River and the wooded hills stretching along its banks.

OFFICIAL SITE

The white stone fortress still stands majestically among the dense forests on the Sumava Mountains. This is one of the oldest, most beautiful castles in South Bohemia. Its complex includes the Upper and Lower castles.

Rosenberg Castle (German: Rosenberg, Czech: Rožmberk) (in Czech it sounds like the city of Rožmberk) is located near the town of Rožmberk nad Vltavou. It was built in the 13th century by Vitek of Prcice. Rosenberg – “Pink Mountain” (Rosenberg an der Moldau). Its owners were representatives of the Rosenberg family (in Czech - Rozmberkov).

The upper castle was destroyed by fire in 1522, all that remained was the Jacobinka defensive tower. In 1556, reconstruction of both buildings was carried out. The facades of the Lower Castle were decorated in the Renaissance style.

Rosenberg is a castle where the mysterious White Lady lives.

Rožmberk was rebuilt and restored several more times. During the period 1840-1857. The fortress was rebuilt again in the neo-Gothic style. The last owner of the castle was Count Buqua. But in 1945 Rožmberk was nationalized. Now there is a museum of Bohemian history.

From the original appearance of the castle, only the round tower, built in the 13th-16th centuries, has been preserved. And banqueting hall, decorated with Italian frescoes of the 16th century. Today, in Rožmberk Castle, tourists can see exhibitions of furniture and porcelain, weapons and Czech glass. This collection was assembled by a nobleman Georg Jan Heinrich Buqua. He also contributed to another famous exhibition of the castle - the torture museum. This museum is of constant interest to the public. Tourists here are told about the ghost of the White Lady - Perchta Rozmberkska, who appears in the castle at night.

The bronze elephant became a real cult object of Rožmberk Castle. It is believed that peace and harmony will come to the family of everyone who strokes his bronze trunk.

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