Hněvín Castle

The castle's origins date back to the 9th century, with the main complex being built in the 12th century by the Hrabischitzer family. Thanks to its strategically advantageous location and water supply from two wells, it was considered impregnable and withstood numerous sieges. In the 13th century, the castle was pledged by Wenceslaus II to the Branibors and later passed into the possession of the Margraves of Meissen before returning to Wenceslaus in 1406. Through the Treaty of Eger, the fortress passed to George of Poděbrady in 1459. During the reign of Rudolf II, the castle temporarily served as a residence for alchemists such as Edward Kelley. In 1595, Rudolf II sold the castle to the city of Most. During the Thirty Years' War, Hněvín was captured by the Swedes in 1646. After the Peace of Westphalia, the citizens of Most requested the demolition of the castle to prevent future sieges. Between 1651 and 1653, the complex was largely demolished at the behest of the deposed Emperor Ferdinand III and subsequently fell into disrepair. At the end of the 19th century, the castle was rebuilt, with a replica of the original complex including a restaurant being created in 1906. Only a few remains of the Romanesque cannon bastions and the floor plans are still preserved from the medieval castle.

Hněvín Castle is situated on a conical hill, approximately 397 m above sea level, in the city of Most within the Ústecký kraj region, located in the northwest of the Czech Republic.

Hněvín Castle houses a hotel, a restaurant, a public observatory, and an open-air stage. From the top of the castle hill, there is a panoramic view over Most, the Ore Mountains, and the Bohemian Central Uplands.