Konipas Motte

Welcome to March at Hořepník. You are standing right now in a place where, many centuries ago, a proud silhouette of medieval manor was soaring. If you were expecting high stone walls, slender towers or monumental gates when you arrived, perhaps the first sight would surprise you. In front of you is not a classic preserved castle, but the so-called castle is extinct. Look closely around you. The place you're on breathes extraordinary calm, but the terrain beneath your feet tells the ancient story of strength, defense and human skill. Feel the strange atmosphere. You're standing in an attic where an ancient medieval past meets nature, which took back what one had taken from it. Notice the extraordinary ripple of the landscape, the distinctive terrain inequalities and the two stone hoarders standing here as silent witnesses of age. These are all remains of a castle called Konipas.

Let us now move together in time to the time when this castle was created and look into its history. The oldest written reports return us to the 13th century, namely the year one thousand two hundred fifty-two. It is this year that the first mention of the seat in which the nobleman Bedřich z Hořepníka is present comes at all. At this time, building fortified settlements was a key way for nobility to secure manor, security and prestige. Originally, this castle served as a proud mansion of the men of Hořepník. Later, however, he went to the hands of the genus who gave him his distinctive and memorable name - they were Konipas from Konipas.

During the fourteenth century, the owners of the estate changed, which was typical of the dynamic period. In the year a thousand and three hundred and thirty-four the holder of the estate became an important nobleman Oldřich the third of Hradec. The important family of lords from Hradec was one of the most powerful in the whole kingdom and ownership of this castle further strengthened their influence in the region. After Oldrich's third, his son, who had the same name, Oldřich, took over the administration. A few decades later, more precisely in the year three hundred and sixty-one, however, another sale took place and the estate was acquired by Jeník z Mezimostí.

Now, if you look at the terrain in front of you, let us try to say goodbye together to the architecture of this place as the country itself reveals it. Now pay attention to the overall layout of the area. The castle had a square plan in its time. Although the preserved wall of residential buildings was not preserved to a height, the castle builders left an indelible mark in the landscape. Look at the massive walls and depths. What you see are terrain relics or remains of the original massive fortification. Notice the deep trench that surrounded the castle. In the Middle Ages, such a moat, along with a boulder, represented a major obstacle to any attacker. Overcoming such a wall and moat required great effort, and thanks to these elements the castle gave its inhabitants a sense of security. Architects and builders of this estate remain unknown to history, but their work on the terrain was extremely effective.

On the next tour, you will notice two stone shooters standing on the premises. At first sight, these buildings will capture their solid, honest stone masonry. And it is here that there is a very interesting connection between the medieval castle and later use of the site. These economic buildings were built from material obtained from the original castle masonry. When the castle lost its residential and military function, its stones were neither forgotten nor wasted. People used them to build these hoops that were used to store grain and other supplies. The stones that used to protect medieval knights and nobles have thus begun to provide a livelihood for the people here.

But the story of Castle Konipas also has a darker chapter, which represents its gradual demise. The development of military tactics, changes in the needs of nobility to the comfort of housing and property shifts led to the castle becoming desolate. The year is one thousand four hundred fifty-seven. In written sources from this year, castle Konipas is for the first time explicitly mentioned as desolate. This means that in the mid-fifteenth century it was no longer inhabited, decayed and gradually transformed into ruins. Life has disappeared from his home space and taken over the place.

Yet the castle did not disappear completely. He turned into a mysterious place full of history. Think about how interesting the story relates to the name Konipas itself. The name, which sounds almost unusual and poetic, was printed both in the name of the village and in the nobility of the Konipas family from Konipas. It is fascinating to see how a solid military point has become an economic background and finally a peaceful monument protected location. The whole area is now rightly protected as a cultural monument, as it represents valuable evidence of medieval settlement, fortification development and how the use of landscapes and human buildings has changed over the centuries.

Now I'm going to invite you to a little walk around. Walk carefully along the edge of the original valleys and feel the depth of the preserved ditch. Imagine how many centuries ago there was a rumble of horses, the talk of medieval inhabitants and the excitement of everyday life at the mansion of the masters of Hořepník or Jeník from Intermostí. Take a closer look at the stone masonry of the hoarders and realize that you are looking at the worked stones that remember the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries.

Thank you for your attention to this remarkable and quiet place. Enjoy the rest of your visit to Březina at Hořepník, soak up the peaceful atmosphere of the countryside and wish you many other wonderful experiences in revealing the secrets of our history.