Točník Castle

Točník Castle is positioned at the southwestern tip of Zámecký Hill, separated from the broader hill ridge by a deep moat carved into the rock. This moat contains an artificial pond that originally captured rainwater as the castle’s only water source. Entry to the site was through a large square gate tower standing above the moat, now in ruins, once accessed by a bridge with two supporting piers and a drawbridge section.

The castle’s overall design features three main courtyards arranged successively. The first courtyard is notable for its access road, which takes a sharp turn to the right and crosses a masonry ditch, adding complexity to movement through the outer defenses. In the second courtyard, the dominant structure is the Purkrabský Palace. This building contains three major halls, including a large great hall measuring approximately 34 by 10 meters. This hall was historically the second largest castle hall in the Czech lands, surpassed only by the Vladislav Hall in Prague. Within the palace is also a substantial timber-floored chamber measuring 13 by 9 meters, recognized as the largest wood-timbered room of its kind in the country.

At the heart of the castle lies a square residential tower whose precise origin remains uncertain, but it may have replaced an earlier chapel. Elements such as fragments of Gothic doorways survive here, alongside evidence of wooden ceilings. This central tower formed part of the private living quarters.

The Royal Palace, built to serve King Wenceslaus IV’s personal and residential needs, is a two-story building with an elongated plan and a convex eastern facade overlooking the moat. Inside, the cellar and ground floor are vaulted and include a kitchen space. The upper levels contain large halls and accommodations. The palace’s main hall is around 14 by 8.5 meters in size, vaulted with four cross vaults (a style where intersecting arches create a supportive framework), and is illuminated by three large windows facing the courtyard. Originally heated by a fireplace that no longer exists, it was later fitted with tiled stoves for warmth.

Several exits connect the Royal Palace to defensive elements like the battlements and the moat via drawbridges. These allowed for rapid escape or water access if needed but were sealed off during the 16th century. The castle’s defensive design shows a transitional character between a fortress and a residence. While protective features exist, large windows that face the moat and the placement of the main palace on a relatively exposed side reveal a priority given to comfort alongside security.

The fortifications include earthen embankments and a semi-circular bastion, probably constructed in the late 15th or early 16th century and further enhanced during the Renaissance period. The Lobkowicz family, who owned the castle in the Renaissance era, introduced changes such as dividing the large courtyard with a transverse wall, lowering Gothic windows to new heights, removing interior wooden paneling, and decorating the outer plaster with sgraffito, a technique involving layers of plaster scratched to reveal underlying colors or patterns.

Today, the castle moat serves an unexpected purpose as a bear enclosure, housing brown bears born in 2013. This adaptive reuse gives new life to one of the castle’s original defensive features.