Lichnice Castle

Lichnice Castle occupies a triangular rocky plateau roughly 79 by 100 by 115 meters in size, covering about 0.46 hectares. This elevated promontory, known locally as an ostroh, is naturally defended by steep ravines on most sides. Artificial defenses include a wide moat surrounding the site and an outer earthwork rampart that once formed part of its protective system.

The primary building material used in the castle’s construction is locally sourced paragneiss, a durable metamorphic rock. Builders combined rough stone with roughly hewn blocks of paragneiss, interspersed with smaller amounts of chalk sandstone and granite. This mix provided sturdy walls that have partially withstood centuries of weathering.

Among the oldest surviving elements is a large circular tower, or bergfried, located at the northeast corner of the site. This defensive tower measures approximately 11.5 meters in diameter and was the castle’s central stronghold. Evidence also indicates the presence of a second tower in the south corner, though today it remains mostly in ruins. A probable square tower once stood at the northwest corner, although only foundations and traces remain. Early fortifications included a barbican—a fortified outwork protecting the main gate—along with a parkán, an enclosed outer ward, both typical defensive structures of the initial Gothic layout.

The castle’s core area, roughly 37 by 35 by 32 meters, was historically separated from outer sections by a wall that has since disappeared. Along the west wall stood the original palace, measuring about 15 by 8 meters. This residence featured vaulted rooms and included at least one window with intricate stone tracery, stylistically dated to the 1260s, providing a clear connection to the castle’s earliest building phase.

Later alterations under the ownership of the Trčkové family during the late Gothic period brought substantial changes. They replaced the original gate with a large polygonal barbican designed to improve defense. The northwest sector saw the construction of a vaulted palace with a complex layout, reflecting changing architectural tastes and functional needs. Residential quarters and service buildings were expanded along the northern and southwestern walls, accommodating the castle’s growth in use and status. To strengthen vulnerable points, a massive shield wall was erected at the southern corner between 1520 and 1522, a date confirmed by tree-ring analysis of surviving timber.

Defensive earthworks were also enhanced, with ramparts widened to support artillery, showing adaptation to emerging gunpowder weaponry. Nearby, remnants of siege works linked to the 1428–1429 Hussite siege remain visible. Approximately 450 meters south on Kobylí hlava hill, a command post was established. This position included earthwork fortifications and platforms likely used for positioning siege engines. Archaeological excavations there uncovered 437 fragments of 15th-century kitchen and table ceramics, indicating temporary occupation associated with the siege.

In more recent times, restoration has focused on preserving key parts of the castle. The castle gate was reconstructed in 1907 using recovered architectural fragments discovered during the work. Excavations during the 1930s exposed the foundations of multiple buildings and stabilized surviving walls. Inside the main tower’s ruins, a lookout platform and a small museum now house various artifacts uncovered on site, allowing visitors to engage with the castle’s layered history.