Castle Košumberk

Luže, Czech Republic (Czechia)

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Košumberk Castle near Luže in the Czech Republic was built in the late 13th or early 14th century, originally as a medieval fortress taking advantage of a steep basalt hill for defense.

It was remodeled in Gothic style by the Lords of Chlum in the late 14th century and later transformed into a Renaissance chateau after a fire in 1573. The castle hosted a Czech Brethren school for Protestant nobles like Albrecht von Wallenstein in the 16th century.

After falling into Jesuit ownership in the late 17th century, it was eventually abandoned in the late 18th century and has since become a romantic ruin with parts of the tower, palace walls, gate, and fortifications preserved.

The ruins serve as a cultural site hosting various events and offer panoramic views of the surrounding Iron Mountains landscape, attracting visitors interested in history, architecture, and nature.