Jenštejn Castle

Prague-East District, Czech Republic (Czechia)

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Jenštejn Castle is a medieval water castle ruin located in the Prague-East District, Czech Republic, founded in the first half of the 14th century by Jenc of Janovice.

It was originally protected by a moat filled with water from nearby lakes and featured an unusual oval-shaped layout with a 28-meter-high tower, which remains the most visible part today. The castle was owned by the Jenštejn family, from whom it takes its name, but ownership changed frequently after the late 14th century. The castle was damaged during the Thirty Years’ War in 1640 when it was burned by the Swedish army and subsequently abandoned, slowly falling into ruin.

Today, the ruins are protected as a cultural monument and open to the public, featuring an exhibition about castle life and period paintings. The site serves as a historical landmark offering insights into medieval defensive architecture and local history.