Mašťov Castle

Mašťov Castle is a medieval stronghold later reshaped into a Renaissance and Baroque residence, standing on a hill in the northern part of the small town of Mašťov, in the Chomutov district of northwestern Czechia.

When was the castle first built?

The castle is first recorded in 1281. It is credited to Břetislav and Purkart of Mašťov, who are thought to have come from the Milhostov family. After 1391 the estate passed to the lords of Dubé, and by the early 15th century it belonged to Habart of Hertenberk.

What happened at the castle during the Hussite wars?

In 1421, Habart of Hertenberk handed the castle over to Hussite forces, who garrisoned it. When a crusader army marched against the Hussites reached Mašťov, the garrison put up resistance even though the fortifications were never built to withstand artillery fire. The defenders surrendered on 3 September 1421. The crusaders allowed the captain and every tenth man to go free, but executed the remaining 84 defenders on the spot.

How did the castle turn into a stately residence?

After the Hussite period, the castle passed to the Lobkowicz family, who converted the Gothic stronghold into a Renaissance residence. Following the Thirty Years' War, its later owners, the counts of Goltz, gave the building its Baroque appearance, adding a tower while tearing down most of the older defensive works, which by then served no purpose.

What is the castle used for today?

The building is owned by the Ústí nad Labem Region (Ústecký kraj) and currently houses a children's home. It is protected as a listed cultural monument. The castle sits on a hilltop roughly 390 metres above sea level, in the northern part of Mašťov, a town in the southern part of the Chomutov district.

Frequently asked questions

When was Mašťov Castle built? It is first mentioned in a written record from 1281, with Břetislav and Purkart of Mašťov credited as its builders.

What happened at the castle during the Hussite wars? In 1421 the Hussite-held castle was besieged by an anti-Hussite crusader army. The garrison surrendered on 3 September, after which the crusaders executed 84 defenders while sparing the captain and every tenth man.

How has the castle's appearance changed over time? The Lobkowicz family rebuilt the original Gothic stronghold as a Renaissance residence, and after the Thirty Years' War the counts of Goltz remodeled it in Baroque style, adding a tower and removing the remaining fortifications.

Can visitors tour the castle today? The building now serves as a children's home and is protected as a cultural monument, so its current use means public access is limited compared to castles run as tourist sites.