Take a trip to the Middle Ages, to a time when the enemy could not get beyond the gates of the fortress. You can find the Gothic Hartenstein Castle in the town of Bochov, which was very important in the Middle Ages as it was located on the trade route between Prague and Loket. The name of the castle, which was founded in the second half of the 15th century by Henry II of Plavno, could be translated as “hard castle”. However, the original buildings were destroyed by George of Poděbrady, who got into a quarrel with Henry II and almost destroyed the castle. The castle then belonged to several owners until it was abandoned for good and turned into a quarry at the beginning of the 17th century.
The castle boasts an elaborate system of artillery defence with battery towers, which fans of fortifications will appreciate. Others may fall for this theme after reading the information signs located on the site. Notable is the square floor plan of the castle, the battery defense towers equipped with gunports and vaulted basements.
One of the towers measuring 15 metres, cellars, bastions and a stone well can still be seen in a relatively preserved state. Don’t forget to climb to the top of the tower and admire the Ore and Doupov Mountains in good visibility.