Frejštejn Castle

The first documented mention of Frejštejn Castle, then referred to as “Vreynsteyne,” occurred in 1250, when it was owned by the brothers Gaitmar and Hartleb von Freistein. In 1331, the castle came into the possession of Konrad von Vöttau. At this time, the associated village of Freistein was also first mentioned, its ownership later confirmed by Vladislav II to Leopold Kraiger von Kraigk of Ungarschitz. A significant event was the destruction of the castle in 1480 during the invasion of Matthias Corvinus's troops into Moravia. The settlement history of the region, also reflected in the village's layout, indicates settlement by Bavarian German tribes, which primarily took place in the 12th and 13th centuries. The castle's estate once included the villages of Größing, Šatic, and Stogečic, all of which later fell into disuse. Before 1563, Freistein was granted market rights, which were confirmed by Emperor Maximilian II in 1571. Until the end of the 16th century, Freistein remained in the possession of the Kraiger von Kraigk family. In the 17th century, the Strein von Schwarzenau and Jacob Berchtold followed as owners. Since 1672, the village has consistently been called Freistein. In the 18th century, under Emanuel Prince of Collalto and San Salvatore, Freistein became part of the Ungarschitz entailment.

The Frejštejn Castle Ruin is located in Podhradí nad Dyjí (Freistein) in the Jihočeský kraj (South Bohemia) of the Jihozápad (Southwest) region in the Czech Republic. It is situated at an elevation of approximately 363 meters above sea level.

The Frejštejn Castle Ruin is accessible to visitors and can be explored, offering insight into the medieval history of the region.

• Uherčice Castle (Ungarschitz) (Castle), approx. 4.2 km away
• Cornštejn Castle Ruin (Zornstein) (Castle), approx. 4.4 km away
• Bítov Castle (Vöttau) (Castle), approx. 5.0 km away
• Drosendorf Castle (Castle), approx. 6.0 km away