Seeberg Castle

Seeberg Castle occupies a rocky outcrop overlooking the Slatinný stream. Its layout features two main sections with a core area smaller than the current overall complex. The original fortifications include remnants of a Romanesque curtain wall, a type of defensive stone wall, as well as a gate that survives partially within the core zone.

Attached to the northeastern corner near this gate is a tower-like structure built in the Romanesque style, indicating a later addition to the original fortifications. Before 1349, modifications were made that reduced the size of the castle’s original core by erecting a dividing wall with a gate that separated the back section, after which the buildings in that area were demolished.

Gothic architectural influences introduced a barbican—a fortified outwork that encloses the original core—and an extended gate that partially projects outward. These defensive improvements reflect the castle’s adaptation to changing military needs during the medieval period.

The outer bailey, an enclosed courtyard outside the main stronghold, contains several younger half-timbered buildings. Among these are an 18th-century barn and servants’ quarters. Additionally, two structures were relocated to the castle grounds: a tower granary dating from 1717, originally from the nearby village of Mlýnek, and a shed built in 1809. Both buildings exemplify the folk architectural traditions of the Cheb region.

The castle’s principal buildings have multiple floors and now serve as exhibition halls. Crossing a steep valley via a pedestrian bridge leads visitors to the nearby Church of St. Wolfgang, highlighting the close relationship between these two sites.

Decorative elements include four coats of arms carved visibly on the gate tower guarding the inner moat, representing the Junker, Brandt, Gerard, and Steinheim families—all factions tied to the castle’s history. The Junker family’s emblem is also displayed on an administrative building in front of the castle. On the rear façade, additional coats of arms commemorate the Nostiz, Neuberg, and Seeberg families.

The shape of the outer bailey reflects modifications made after the medieval period and does not correspond to its Gothic-era design. Inside, decorative displays reconstruct 19th-century interior styles ranging from Empire to Chippendale. Collections include glassware and porcelain made by notable Czech manufacturers. An exhibition modeled on a skanzen, or open-air museum, portrays 18th-century rural life in the Cheb region, featuring traditional clothing, agricultural tools, and a scale model of a typical half-timbered farmstead.

Since 2011, the castle’s cellars have been open to the public, featuring exhibitions about the famous poet Goethe and his romantic interests, the Cheb executioner Karel Huss, an armory displaying weapons, and a library collection. Four years later, an exhibit dedicated to the death of the military leader Albrecht von Wallenstein was installed in the space formerly used as the castle restaurant, adding further depth to the site’s historical narrative.