Kotnov

Kotnov is a Gothic tower and the surviving remnant of a castle overlooking the historic centre of Tábor in South Bohemia, Czech Republic — one of the most recognisable landmarks of the town founded by the Hussites in 1420.

Where did the Kotnov tower come from?

The castle stood on a rocky spur above the Lužnice river and was built in the second half of the 13th century under King Přemysl Otakar II, as part of a chain of strongholds guarding southern Bohemia. The earliest written mention dates to 1370, though the fortress almost certainly existed earlier under its original name, Hradiště. After being damaged in feuds between noble families, it was rebuilt in the 14th century by the lords of Ústí (the Sezima family). At that stage the stronghold had a polygonal layout with four towers — two round and two rectangular.

What role did the castle play during the Hussite era?

When the Hussite town of Tábor was founded at the foot of the hill in 1420, Kotnov castle was absorbed into the town's defensive system. In the first half of the 15th century, the upper section of the south-western tower was rebuilt into an artillery tower, fitted with gun-ports and ventilation shafts for gunpowder smoke — considered the oldest structure of its kind in the Czech lands. The lower, earlier part of the tower, roughly three storeys high, kept its early Gothic character. These upgrades helped make Tábor one of the most advanced fortified towns of its time.

What happened to the castle after the Middle Ages?

A fire in 1532 badly damaged the castle. Between 1612 and 1613 a municipal brewery was established in its ruins and cellars, and the brewery's later expansion gradually consumed the remaining walls — in 1908 the entire eastern wing of the castle was demolished to make room for production buildings. As a result, the Kotnov tower is essentially the only part of the original fortress still standing today. The brewery itself operated on the site until 1981.

What can visitors see there today?

The tower is adjoined by the Bechyně Gate (Bechyňská brána), the only surviving town gate of old Tábor, built in the 15th century and preserved close to its original appearance. Both structures now belong to the Hussite Museum in Tábor. The 25-metre Kotnov tower serves as a lookout point — 155 steps lead to a viewing gallery with views over the old town and surrounding hills, while the gate houses an exhibition on the site's history. The whole complex has been protected as a cultural monument since 1962.

Frequently asked questions

Can you climb the Kotnov tower? Yes, the tower is open to visitors as a lookout point, reached via 155 steps.

How old is Kotnov castle? It dates back to the second half of the 13th century, making it more than 750 years old, although only the tower survives in anything close to its original form.

Why does so little of the castle remain? A fire damaged it in 1532, and from the 17th century onward a growing municipal brewery gradually took over the site, leading to the demolition of most buildings, including the entire eastern wing in 1908.

What stands next to the tower? The Bechyně Gate, the only surviving gate of Tábor's medieval town walls, which today forms part of the Hussite Museum exhibition together with the tower.