Rabštejn (hrad, okres Třebíč) Castle ruin

Rabštejn is a ruin of the castle located near Dukovan in the district of Třebíč, which is one of the cultural monuments of the Vysočina Region. The castle was built in the early 14th century and first mentioned in 1358. His history is closely linked to the Hussite wars, during which he served as a strategic refuge for the robbery groups. This function led to his demolishing in the mid-15th century.

The establishment of Rabštejn is connected with Mr Pesík from Janovice, but the first written mention of the castle dates back to 1358 when Vok of Holštjin and Drslav ze Šelmberka bought it from him. The castle became part of the Rabstejn estate, which at that time only included the villages of Dukovany and Upper Dubniana. After 1360 the castle was transferred to the possession of Margrave Jan Jindřich, whose son Jan Soběslav was to inherit Rabštejn, but was eventually won by a younger Prokop. Prokop transferred the castle to his party Hynek Yevishovski of Kunštát, known as Suchý Čert, who became a castle couple in 1402.

The architecture of Rabštejn was characterized by a rectangular castle core with a two-palace layout. The rear palace was preserved only as a terrain sign and small remnants of masonry, while the second was probably standing on a rock formation at the head of the core. The castle was protected by walls and parks, with moats leading along side sides. In the first period of the 15th century, an advanced fortification was built east of the castle, which included an external trench and platforms protecting the tower structure.

The ownership of Rabstejn has undergone several changes. After Hynek Yevishovski of Kunštát, who became a castle couple in 1402, the castle was known for its robbery activity. Hynek and his associate William Sudlice of Litovan were engaged in robbery expeditions which continued after Hynek's death in 1408. During the Hussite wars, the castle maintained the Hussite crew and served as a refuge for the robbery groups, which led to its redemption and destruction at the Grand Meter Assembly in 1440. In 1446 Rabstejn was conquered and defeated by the army of Moravian states.

Key events in the history of Rabstejn include its gradual destruction during the Hussite wars. In 1402, Hynk Jevišovský z Kunštátu became a castle couple, which was the beginning of a robbery period. In 1440, a decision was made to redeem and destroy Rabštejn for his use as a refuge of a robbery group. In 1446 an army of Moravian states conquered the castle and destroyed it.

Today, only the ruins of Rabstejn are preserved, which bear witness to its past glory. The castle core with a rectangular plan and signs of walls and palaces are evidence of its historical significance. The archaeological excavations from 2017 revealed ceramics from the advanced part of the 14th century, which provides an additional insight into life in the castle.

Rabstejn is worth visiting not only for its historical value, but also as a reminder of the complex history of the region. Ruins offer a unique view of the past and are an important part of the cultural heritage of the Vysočina Region. Visit Rabstejn to learn his silent stories and appreciate its historical value.