Hrad Lopata

Milínov, Czechia, Czech Republic (Czechia)

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Hrad Lopata near Milínov in Czechia is a medieval castle built between 1367 and 1377 by Heřman of Litice on the site of an ancient settlement.

The castle was constructed on a sandstone rock above the Kornatický stream valley at an elevation of 420 meters. Lopata belonged to a type of fortress known as a bergfrit castle, characterized by a main tower (bergfrit) placed in the most defensible part. It had a trapezoidal core area with wooden outer fortifications and a stone square tower remains on the eastern side. The castle had a defensive gate with a drawbridge and a residential tower.

It also included a water cistern and a small palace equipped with tiled stoves. Lopata was besieged and destroyed in 1433 by Hussite forces after a months-long siege. The site is now a ruin and part of a protected natural reserve, with archaeological remains such as pottery and militariya found in the area, including artifacts from earlier cultures. The castle ruins and the former siege camp remain an important historical and cultural monument in the Czech Republic.