Cornštejn Castle

The construction of Zornstein Castle took place in the first half of the 14th century with the consent of King John of Luxembourg. The builder was the Moravian provincial governor Raimund von Lichtenburg, who already owned the nearby Bítov Castle. The first documented mention dates to May 31, 1343, when Margrave Charles approved the division of the Zornstein and Bítov fiefs among Raimund's sons. After changing ownership and disputes between the Lords of Neuhaus and the Lichtenburgs, the latter expanded the castle with a palace and an outer bailey. In 1422, the castle fell to the Hussites. After the Hussite Wars, a new palace was built on the north side. In the 15th century, conflicts arose, including between Emperor Frederick III and Jan von Lichtenburk. In 1464, King George of Poděbrady besieged the castle because the then owner Hynek Bitovský von Lichtenburg supported the Catholic side. After a year, the castle fell and was confiscated. Later, Zornstein returned to the Lichtenburgs, who strengthened the fortifications in 1542. From the end of the 16th century, the castle remained uninhabited and changed hands several times over the centuries until it was expropriated in 1945. Extensive safeguarding and restoration measures were carried out in the 1970s and beyond.

The castle ruin of Cornštejn is located in Bítov (Vöttau) in the Jihočeský kraj (South Bohemia) in the Jihozápad (Southwest) region of the Czech Republic. It stands at an elevation of approximately 397 m above sea level.

Visitors can explore the Cornštejn castle ruin today. Several gates, cellar rooms, and two wells are still preserved, offering a glimpse into the former grandeur of the complex.

• Bítov Castle (Vöttau) (Castle), approx. 1.5 km away
• Frejštejn Castle Ruin (Castle), approx. 4.4 km away
• Uherčice Castle (Ungarschitz) (Castle), approx. 6.3 km away
• Vranov nad Dyjí Castle (Frain) (Castle), approx. 8.4 km away