Nový Hrádek Castle

Nový Hrádek is a castle ruin located near the village of Lukov in the present-day Czech Republic. It was established in the mid-14th century by the Moravian Margrave John Henry of Luxembourg, a member of the influential Luxembourg dynasty and the brother of Emperor Charles IV.

The castle’s early history is closely connected to the Luxembourg family. Around 1403, Jobst of Luxembourg, John Henry’s son, granted Nový Hrádek to his supporter, Přech of Kojetice. Within a few years, by 1418, ownership shifted to Osvald of Eytzing, an Austrian noble who also controlled the nearby Kaja Castle situated across the Dyje River.

During the 15th century, Nový Hrádek underwent significant changes. It was expanded and rebuilt in several stages, including the construction of a younger castle section, which resulted in the double castle layout seen today. By the beginning of the 16th century, the castle had reached its current overall dimensions.

Throughout the 16th century, the castle passed through the hands of several noble families. These included the Lords of Kunštát, Krajíř of Krajk, Dietrichstein, Tetour of Tetov, Čertorejský, and Štrejn of Schwarzenau, reflecting the complex patterns of landownership in the region during this period.

In the 17th century, the Althann family, who held the nearby Vranov Castle, acquired Nový Hrádek. The castle’s military significance was tested during the Thirty Years’ War, when Swedish forces led by General Lennart Torstenson occupied it around 1645. The castle suffered extensive damage in this conflict.

Following its destruction, Nový Hrádek was no longer used as a noble residence. Instead, it served mainly as a storage site. In the early 19th century, later owners Mnizský and Stadnický made adaptations to parts of the castle, converting some rooms for living purposes and transforming the courtyard’s former farm buildings into a gamekeeper’s lodge.

During the period of the First Czechoslovak Republic in the early 20th century, local organizations such as the Czech Tourist Club utilized the castle for public access, even establishing modest tourist lodging within the ruins.

After World War II and the establishment of communist rule in 1948, Nový Hrádek fell within a highly restricted border zone, making it inaccessible until the early 1990s. Since then, efforts have been made to stabilize the site and open viewpoints to appreciate its location over the Dyje valley. The castle is now protected as a National Cultural Monument and lies within the core zone of the Podyjí National Park.