Žebrák Castle

Žebrák Castle occupies a narrow ridge composed of quartzite rock, with its core structures placed on the summit, surrounded on most sides by an outer enclosure known as a bailey. Access to the interior was gained through a gate tower leading into this bailey, a form typical of hilltop fortresses.

The original castle follows the bergfried type—a medieval design featuring large towers used primarily for defense rather than habitation. Remarkably, Žebrák incorporated two round towers, considered one of the earliest noble castles in Bohemia to do so. At the western end stood a round tower about nine meters across, with walls approximately two meters thick, which opened onto a small courtyard. This courtyard was enclosed by a larger bergfried tower measuring more than eleven meters in diameter, connected by a drawbridge to the rear palace.

Behind the main bergfried, a two-room palace stretch measuring about ten by thirty meters is situated. This palace is divided into two levels, with its lower rear section built on a square plan and reached through a corridor integrated within the thick curtain wall. Above the castle’s neck ditch—an artificial deep trench defending the narrow access point—a chapel was erected, dedicated to Saint Apollinaris and Saint Margaret, likely under the reign of Charles IV.

The late 14th-century reconstruction led by Wenceslaus IV transformed the castle’s entrance area into a new, elegant palace fronted by a smaller tower. This renovation required partial demolition of the former entrance tower. The old palace was modified extensively, creating a large hall illuminated by rectangular windows and two additional rooms, one featuring vaulted ceilings. An internal spiral staircase connected these upper chambers to the ground floor below. Notably, the palace incorporated a central warm-air heating system, an advanced amenity for its era.

The large bergfried tower was heightened and adorned with stone painting techniques to imitate large blocks, providing a decorative rustication effect. A new gate was constructed several meters away from the original entrance, integrating the old gate tower into the expanded palace complex. Additional buildings occupied the space between the palace and chapel, while new economic structures were added in the southern part of the outer bailey to support the castle’s daily operations.

Defensive improvements included the installation of surrounding fishponds, serving as protective water barriers. In the 15th century, a third round tower was built in the outer bailey’s northeastern corner. This tower featured two-meter-thick walls and an internal diameter of nearly five meters. Its darkened ground floor was likely designed for storage or shelter, while the upper level contained narrow openings for archers. A wooden or half-timbered floor at the top allowed defenders to use light weapons. This tower demonstrated one of the earliest adaptations to artillery warfare in the region after the Hussite Wars.

Today, Žebrák stands as a ruin, with several elements surviving in varying states. Remnants of the bergfried and the passage connecting it to the curtain wall remain visible. Portions of the old palace walls survive, including the large hall windows and the spiral staircases. These surviving structures provide tangible links to the site’s medieval past and its evolution from a noble fortress to a royal residence.