Castle Horšovský Týn

in the nearby Horšov, a coumpound pontificial court used to stand since the 12th century already. In the 13th century, it didn’t suit to the claims of its time on the fortification grounds any more and that’s why a fortified early gothic castle (a castell type) was built by one of the Prague’s bishops on a rocky shore in a near merchant settlement called Týn – later Horšovský. The rests of this original castle are apparent in the castle interiors - the most valuable room is the early gothic chapel. After the Hussite wars the castle was no more owned by church but it was given to profane feudals. The family of Ronšperk (Ronsberg) – the lords of the nearby Poběžovice - came to this place as one of the first noble families. By 1535, this manor was gained by an important czech noble family, the Lords of Lobkowicz.

The first one of them was Jan the Younger of Lobkowicz, who performed important offices in the country and was in king Fredinand’s I. favour. In 1547, a big fire arose in the town of Horšovský Týn, reached the castle as well and it was nearly destroyed by it. Three years later, Jan the Younger had this half-damaged castle rebuilt into the new and modern style of that time, the Renaissance. In this state, the castle was preserved till today. The heir of Jan the Younger, William, was sentenced to death and lost of his property because of his participation in the uprising of the estates in Prague. In 1623, the manor was bought as a cheap postwar confiscate by a steyerian count Maxmillian of Trauttmansdorff – an imperial diplomat. The Trauttmansdorffs owned the castle for more than 300 years till 1945, as pursuant to the president Beneš Decree the administration of this castle was given to the state. The gothic and renaissance castle Horšovský Týn is so valuable because since the reconstruction in the 16th century, there hasn’t been any other rebuilding. There were only some small changes made in the rear court during the last reconstruction in the 19th century.
In 1996, the whole complex was declared a national monument for its enormous historical value. Not only the castle belongs to the complex but also the building of the burgravery palace and the nearly fourty hectar large natural-landscape park with a lookout tower Gloriet, Loreto Chapel and Widow House. Today, the castle is one of the most open monuments in the Czech Republic: during the main season, there are four visitor’s routes offered to the public with the total time over 3 hours.