Zámek Dívčí Hrad Castle

Zámek Dívčí Hrad is located in the same name village in the district of Bruntál, Moravskoslezský kraj. This Renaissance castle, built on the edge of the Manzlaha River, is famous for its rich history and architectural expression, which, despite several modifications, kept the original material schedule. The castle is part of a cultural monument, which includes a park, a former hobby house and other structures.

The first mention of the Gothic castle at the site of today's Girls Castle dates back to 1267. It was originally built by the lazy Olomouc Bishop Bruno of Schauenburg, whose men held the manor Dívčí Hrad in the 13th century. After several changes of owners, the castle was conquered by the army of Matyas Korvinus and trashed in 1474. In 1571 he again became the property of Olomouc bishop, who built the Renaissance castle Jan Sedlnický z Choltic on the site of the demolished castle between 1591-1593. For active support of the state uprising, the estate was confiscated in 1622 and donated to Archduke Charles, Grand Master of the Order of German Knights. After his death, the order belonged to the German knights who in 1768 set up a commendation in the place of the castle.

The castle has undergone several transformations. The original Gothic castle was built on a low edge surrounded by a natural moat of water and waxing, which provided a basis for its defence capabilities. In 1591-1593, the castle was rebuilt into a Renaissance style with corner towers and two belt walls, which resembled North Italian castels. In 1837, the castle was modified in a neo-gothic way.

The castle ownership has changed several times. After Archduke Charles, in possession of the Order of German Knights, the castle went to the Order of Johanites in 1768, later called the Maltese Knights. They managed the castle until 1945 when it was heavily damaged during World War II by artillery fire. After a temporary repair in 1953 he became owner of ONV in Krnov and since 1962 he became a national company of Medical Supply Prague, the Ostrava plant. In 1962-1969 the castle was reconstructed. Since 2020, he has been the owner of HIGHLANDER HERITAGE association, Z.s., which carries out rescue work and ensures the accessibility of the castle to the public during the tourist season.

Zámek Dívčí Hrad is a Renaissance single-storey building with four round corner towers on a square floor plan. Its smooth facades are divided by a profiled stone cordon ledge and main ledge. The main facade is vertically divided by six window axes, while the southern facade has five irregularly spaced window axes. The national towers are high up to the level of the roof ridge and finished by the battlements. The building is finished with a steep valb roof up ahead.

The interior of the castle contains a wide hall with a full vault, a square room with two arches and a smaller arched living room. The towers are flat-ceiling and indoor equipment includes modern elements of the neo-gothic and neo-Renaissance style.

Today's state of the castle Dívčí Hrad is the result of a long history ranging from Gothic castle to Renaissance reconstruction to modern restoration. The chateau is not only architecturally interesting, but also offers a view of the rich history of the region. For tourists, the Dívčí Hrad Castle is an ideal place to visit where they can enjoy the beautiful environment and zoom in on the historical events that shaped this area.