Radyně Castle
Encyclopedia
Radyně Castle is a castle situated on a hill of the same name, near the town of Starý Plzenec
, in the Plzeň Region
of the Czech Republic
. Radyne, like the similarly conceived Kasperk, represents the height of the 14-century trend towards the merging together of castle buildings.
fell into disrepair in the first half of the 13th century, it was necessary to build a new center of royal power for the administration of the region of Plzeň. The construction apparentlly begun in 1353, during the rule of Charles IV
, and completed in 1361. The original name of Karlskrone (Charles' Crown) did not become commonly used in the district, and the castle gradually took the name of the hill on which it was built - Radyně.
The burgraves who governed the region were based in Radyně, and by the end of the 15th century it was acquired by the Šternberks (1496 - 1561), who settled at the more comfortable castle at Bechyně
. Its counterpart at Radyně, which was accessible only with difficulty, started to fall into disrepair, and its fate was sealed in the first quarter of the 16th century when it was burned down. As early as 1558, record indicated that it was abandoned, and not even the affluent Černín of the Crudenice family, owners of the castle as well as the surrounding district in the 18th century, invested in repair work. The mysterious abandoned ruin had to wait until the coming of the Romantic movement in the 19th century for more interest to be shown in it. Minor repairs and alterations were however destroyed by fire in 1886.
In recent years, the castle has been progressively renewed, and a permanent exhibition devoted to its history can now be seen. The tower is open to the visitors of the castle, and its observation point affords wonderful viwes.
Starý Plzenec
Starý Plzenec is a town in the Plzeň Region of the Czech Republic. It lies some to the southeast from the region capital of Plzeň on the Úslava River....
, in the Plzeň Region
Plzen Region
Plzeň Region is an administrative unit in the western part of Bohemia in the Czech Republic. It is named after its capital Plzeň .- Communes :...
of the Czech Republic
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
. Radyne, like the similarly conceived Kasperk, represents the height of the 14-century trend towards the merging together of castle buildings.
History
When the castle of Starý PlzenecStarý Plzenec
Starý Plzenec is a town in the Plzeň Region of the Czech Republic. It lies some to the southeast from the region capital of Plzeň on the Úslava River....
fell into disrepair in the first half of the 13th century, it was necessary to build a new center of royal power for the administration of the region of Plzeň. The construction apparentlly begun in 1353, during the rule of Charles IV
Charles IV, Holy Roman Emperor
Charles IV , born Wenceslaus , was the second king of Bohemia from the House of Luxembourg, and the first king of Bohemia to also become Holy Roman Emperor....
, and completed in 1361. The original name of Karlskrone (Charles' Crown) did not become commonly used in the district, and the castle gradually took the name of the hill on which it was built - Radyně.
The burgraves who governed the region were based in Radyně, and by the end of the 15th century it was acquired by the Šternberks (1496 - 1561), who settled at the more comfortable castle at Bechyně
Bechyne
Bechyně , is a town in the South Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic. It is located on the Lužnice River 20 km southwest of Tábor and has a population of 5,695 ....
. Its counterpart at Radyně, which was accessible only with difficulty, started to fall into disrepair, and its fate was sealed in the first quarter of the 16th century when it was burned down. As early as 1558, record indicated that it was abandoned, and not even the affluent Černín of the Crudenice family, owners of the castle as well as the surrounding district in the 18th century, invested in repair work. The mysterious abandoned ruin had to wait until the coming of the Romantic movement in the 19th century for more interest to be shown in it. Minor repairs and alterations were however destroyed by fire in 1886.
In recent years, the castle has been progressively renewed, and a permanent exhibition devoted to its history can now be seen. The tower is open to the visitors of the castle, and its observation point affords wonderful viwes.
External links
- Radyně Castle at Kudyznudy.com