Kost Castle

The castle was built in the 13th century by Beneš of Vartemberk, who called himself Benesius di Costi. According to his nickname, the name of the castle probably originated. The original building had one tower and a hall, but because it stood on a rock and was surrounded by forest, it was practically invisible. In the years 1497 - 1524, the Šelmberks lived on Kost, who had the western wing rebuilt. In 1542, the castle was bought by Jan Biberštein and he had a Renaissance wing with a large kitchen, the so-called Bibernštejn Palace, built. Another owner, Kryštof Popel from Lobkovice, added a brewery, the Lobkovický Palace and other farm buildings, which he connected to the castle. Albrecht of Wallenstein, who owned the castle after Kryštof Popel, wanted to rebuild the castle into a chateau, but his plans were thwarted in 1634 by death. A year later, it burned down and began to decay. It was repaired with new owners, the Netolický family. In 1948, the castle was occupied by the state and used as a museum of Gothic and Renaissance art. Subsequently, it was returned in 1992 to the last family that owned it, the Kinský family. At the instigation of Giovanni Kinsky dal Borgo, an exhibition of firearms was created.

When visiting Kosta, in addition to a classic tour and information about the history of the castle, you will learn about the history of the Kinský family in Bohemia or see a medieval torture chamber with the only functioning guillotine in the Czech Republic.

Not far from Kosta, by the Black Pond, is the old rock dwelling U slepé Barky. At the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, two widows lived here, who, after the death of their husbands, suffered from poverty and therefore made their homes in the rock in the castle grounds. They lived here until World War I.
A beautiful but physically demanding trip is to the nearby Trosky, the hike will take all day. Debris

they are the ruins of a castle and form an inseparable dominant feature of the Bohemian Paradise. Two towers, Baba and Panna, will give you a beautiful view of the surroundings.

Author: Marie Bukovinská