Hauenstein

Krásný Les, Czechia, Czech Republic (Czechia)

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Hauenstein, also known as Hauenštejn or Horní hrad, is a medieval castle located in the territory of Krásný Les in Czechia.

It was built in the 13th century by King Ottokar II or his son Wenceslaus II to protect royal routes and nearby mines. Over the centuries, the castle changed hands many times, including ownership by the Šlik family, who rebuilt it in Renaissance style after a fire in 1600, and later the Buquoy family, who remodeled it in a neo-Gothic style in the 19th century.

During World War II, it was used by the Hitler Youth, and post-war it served various functions including housing uranium miners and a youth detention center, falling into disrepair after 1958. In 2000, the castle was purchased by Pavel Palacký, a descendant of historian František Palacký, who initiated efforts to restore and preserve the site.

The castle features Gothic cellars, a knight’s hall with an original carved wooden ceiling, and a tower with views of the Ore Mountains, complemented by a botanical garden and arboretum with a collection of rare tree species.​