Skalní hrad Svojkov Rock castle

Welcome to this magical place. Right now you are facing the romantic ruin of the rock castle Svojkov, located in the district of Česká Lípa. Remove the ruzyne from the outside world for a moment and let yourself be carried away by the atmosphere that breathes upon you from every stone. When you look up, a 20-meter-high wooded hill stands before you, standing on a 13-meter-high sandstone pole. It was in this massive sandstone pillar that once human hands were cut out rooms that formed the foundation of the castle. Feel the silence, the green and the power of nature that has been taking this place back for centuries.

Let's look into the past now and move on to the times when people actually lived here. The first written mention of our castle dates back to a thousand three hundred fifty-five. At the time of its greatest glory, this building served as a thoroughly fortified mansion and as a safe store for weapons and food. Originally he stood at the top of the sandstone pillar of a two-wing castle palace, which was used by the then lords. Among the historical figures whose fates have intertwined with this place, we will find Yeska, John of Chlum, Actibor of Kachice, but also the fearsome knight of Mikez Pančír of Smojno. Later, Count Josef Jan Maxmilián Kinský entered the history of the castle.

Now pay attention to the construction itself and the details you have right in front of you. Look at the structure of the rock. The whole castle was cleverly carved into a three-storey sandstone column. This natural pedestal once proudly stood a fortified mansion. Architects and builders from that time are unknown, but their ability to carve up whole residential and defence spaces is still a wonder today. Notice how the rock forms a natural wall and blends with the surrounding landscape. Although the castle serves today as a protected cultural monument and there are only traces of the original buildings in the stone, you can clearly see the ingenuity of medieval construction.

Let's move on to the dramatic events Svojkov has experienced. Moved history of the castle is full of fighting and power disputes. In the year of the thousand four hundred forty four the already mentioned knight Mikeš Pancíř ze Smojna took possession of the castle. From there he did his adventures, which did not leave his surroundings calm. In the years of a thousand four hundred and forty-four to a thousand four hundred forty-five, the castle was conquered in retaliation and burned down by troops of Lužice cities. The fire destroyed what was built with so much effort. The inhabitants tried to hold the castle, but the wounds of fate were too great. The fall of power and importance continued until the castle was finally abandoned in a thousand and five hundred thirty.

But time passed, and human memory returned to the Goths and romance. There's another interesting chapter, which is a year of seven hundred and eighty. That's when the castle was repaired in a romantic spirit. People in the eighteenth century began to rediscover the beauty of old ruins and Svojkov became a popular place for lovers of stories and old times. Imagine when the pilgrims came here and admired the overgrown rocks and mysterious rooms carved in sandstone, just like you do today.

Thank you for taking the time to stop at this historic place. I hope that wandering around the rock castle Svojkov has brought you peace, lessons and incentives to reflect on what the landscape remembers. Take another look around you, feel the husk of the forest and the touch of history on the cold sandstone. When you continue your journey, we wish you many other wonderful experiences. Goodbye.