Žebrák Castle

Žebrák Castle is a striking ruin in the Central Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic, standing in the Beroun District within the municipality of Točník, right beside the small town that lent it its name. Together with the neighboring Točník Castle it forms one of the country's best-known castle pairings — the two ruins sit almost side by side on the same ridge and are jointly protected as a single national cultural monument.

Who founded the castle, and when?

Construction began in the second half of the 13th century under the Zajíc family, members of the Buzic lineage who were establishing a network of fortified seats west of Prague at the time. The name comes from the rocky outcrop the castle sits on, not — as local legend has it — from a begging student. In 1336 King John of Luxembourg acquired the property, and from then on Žebrák belonged to the crown rather than to a noble family.

What was its role under Charles IV?

The castle guarded a crossing of trade routes leading toward Křivoklát and Zbiroh, so its value was mainly strategic. Charles IV held it between 1349 and 1360 but treated it more as an outpost than a home, especially after his firstborn son Wenceslaus died there in 1351. For several years it also sheltered the emperor's younger brother, John Henry, who withdrew there after his marriage to Margaret Maultasch collapsed.

How did Wenceslaus IV rebuild it, and why was Točník built next door?

Žebrák reached its peak under Wenceslaus IV, who had it thoroughly rebuilt into a proper royal residence. The layout was an elongated oval, walled on the north, west and east sides, with two towers guarding the approach: a round gate tower roughly 13 meters high, and a taller main tower at the highest point, standing about 20 meters with a circumference of nearly 35 meters. The residential palace measured roughly 10 by 30 meters. A fire in 1395 marked a turning point — most likely the event that pushed Wenceslaus IV to build a new, grander castle, Točník, on the adjoining hilltop.

What happened to the castle after the kings moved on?

After Wenceslaus IV, Žebrák passed through several noble families, including the Kolovrats and the Šumburks, and gradually lost its standing as a residence. By the early 16th century it was rarely inhabited, and in 1532, during a visit by King Ferdinand I, a major fire swept through it. From that point the decline was rapid — records from 1558 and 1593 already describe it as abandoned. The lower parts stayed in practical use a while longer, housing a mill and a brewery, and by the mid-16th century the whole site had been ringed with fish ponds.

What survives to see today?

What remains of the medieval stronghold is mostly its two cylindrical towers and sections of the palace walls; the rest of the complex survives largely as foundations. The ruin is open to visitors, though on limited hours (it is closed on Mondays), with a modest entrance fee. Walking between Žebrák and Točník — two castles visible almost at once from the same ridge — remains one of the most distinctive short hikes in the Křivoklátsko region.

Frequently asked questions

Who built Žebrák Castle? The Zajíc family, of the Buzic lineage, founded it in the second half of the 13th century; by 1336 it had passed to King John of Luxembourg.

Why does Točník Castle stand right next to Žebrák? Wenceslaus IV likely built Točník on the neighboring hilltop after a fire damaged Žebrák in 1395, giving himself a new and grander residence.

Are Žebrák and Točník protected as one monument? Yes — although they are separate ruins, both castles are jointly listed as a single national cultural monument.

What happened after the 1532 fire? The castle declined quickly after the fire during King Ferdinand I's visit, and by the later 16th century records already describe it as deserted.

What original structures still stand? Mainly the two cylindrical towers and parts of the palace walls; most of the rest of the complex survives only as foundations.