Helfštýn
Encyclopedia
Helfštýn, is a castle 15 km east of Přerov
, in the Olomouc
region in Central Moravia, Czech Republic. The history of Helfštýn is closely related to the development of the nearby town of Lipník nad Bečvou
, which has a number of valuable architectural monuments, among them the classical château and one of the oldest late-gothic synagogues in the Czech Republic.
The ruins of the castle are perched on a high wooden knoll above the narrowest part of the Moravian Gate
and above the left bank of the river Bečva
. The complex is 187 meters long and up to 152 meters wide. It is one of the largest castles in terms of area in the Czech Republic.
family, the Kostek of Postupice
family, the Pernštejn, the Ludanice
and the Vrbno family. This unassailable structure withstood a number of sieges. It was an important Hussite
bastion against the German catholic town of Olomouc and also acted in support of King Jirí of Poděbrady
against the Hungarian
King Mathias Corvin
who was unable to defeat the king's troops and capture the fortress in 1468. Not even the Swedes
and the Danes
succeeded in capturing it during the Thirty Years' War
.
The castle gained its current, elongated form during the ownership of Vilém of Pernštejn, at the beginning of the 16th century, when the network of bastions and fortified outer wards was added and the system of towers and gates was changed. The most extensive alterations were carried out from 1622 by its late owners, the Ditrichtejns. The changes were limited to the interior, and most of the rooms were newly vaulted. Its building development, was strongly influenced by the Austrian
military administration in Vienna
in 1656. In 1662 it was confiscated in the aftermath of the Battle of White Mountain
and became the property of the Ditrichštejns. In the second half of the 16th century a Renaissance
palace with a chapel was built on the site of the inner ward, and the Pernštejn finished the grandiose building project at Helfštýn.
In the 17th century the castle was made into an almost impregnable fortress against the Turkish threat to Moravia. Soon afterwards howerver, it was abandoned, and in the 18th century highwayman Onderka's band of robbers settled in the castle. In the end it was destroyed with the approval of the Ditrichštejns. From the 19th century it became a popuar desrtination for romantic souls. Conservationn of the ruins was begun in 1911 and extensive archaeological research has been carried out since 1978.
The Hefaiston
is an annual gathering of master blacksmiths from many countries. Examples of their art are permanently displayed around the castle. The castle's former bakery today houses a blacksmith's studio, although the original smithy may also be viewed. Other festive events are held in the castle, including theatrical performances, balls and displays of swordmanship.
Prerov
Přerov is a town in the Olomouc Region of the Czech Republic where the Bečva river flows through. Přerov is a statute town . It has population of about 47,373 to January 2, 2008. Přerov is about 22 km south west of Olomouc. In the past it was a major crossroad in the heart of Moravia in the...
, in the Olomouc
Olomouc
Olomouc is a city in Moravia, in the east of the Czech Republic. The city is located on the Morava river and is the ecclesiastical metropolis and historical capital city of Moravia. Nowadays, it is an administrative centre of the Olomouc Region and sixth largest city in the Czech Republic...
region in Central Moravia, Czech Republic. The history of Helfštýn is closely related to the development of the nearby town of Lipník nad Bečvou
Lipník nad Becvou
Lipník nad Bečvou is a small town located in the Olomouc Region, in the eastern part of the Czech Republic. The nearest larger towns are Přerov and Hranice, approximately ten to twelve kilometers distant....
, which has a number of valuable architectural monuments, among them the classical château and one of the oldest late-gothic synagogues in the Czech Republic.
The ruins of the castle are perched on a high wooden knoll above the narrowest part of the Moravian Gate
Moravian Gate
The Moravian Gate is a geomorphological feature in the Moravian region of the Czech Republic. It is formed by the depression between the Carpathian Mountains in the east and the Sudetes in the west...
and above the left bank of the river Bečva
Becva
The Bečva is a river in the Czech Republic. It is a left tributary of the river Morava. The Bečva is created by two source streams, the Northern Rožnovská Bečva and the Southern Vsetínská Bečva The Bečva is a river in the Czech Republic. It is a left tributary of the river Morava. The Bečva is...
. The complex is 187 meters long and up to 152 meters wide. It is one of the largest castles in terms of area in the Czech Republic.
History
The castle was probably established at the end of the 13th century by the marauding knight Friduš (or Helfrid) of Linava who used the castle as a base for robbing merchants during the unsettled times that followed the murder of Wenceslas III, the last Přemyslide, in 1306. As Friduš's escapades could not be ignored, young King John of Luxemburg sent his troops to deal with the bandits. Although Friduš perished, he gave his name to the castle. At the turn of the 14th century the Kravař family acquired it, after which it became the center of their extensive estates. During the 14th and the beginning of the 15th century the castle was remodelled as a Gothic fortress. The Lords of Kravař owned the castle until 1447, and it was then held mostly by a number of Moravian noble families, among them the SovinecSovinec
Sovinec is a castle situated on a cone-shaped hill located in the south-west parts of the Rešov hilly region of Bruntál District, in North Moravia, Czech Republic.-Lords of Sovinec :...
family, the Kostek of Postupice
Postupice
Postupice is a municipality and village in Benešov District in the Central Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic. -References:*This article was initially translated from the Czech Wikipedia....
family, the Pernštejn, the Ludanice
Ludanice
Ludanice is a municipality in the Topoľčany District of the Nitra Region, Slovakia. The most important sightseeing is a church from 1701. The village is developed as most of the villages in Topoľčany district....
and the Vrbno family. This unassailable structure withstood a number of sieges. It was an important Hussite
Hussite
The Hussites were a Christian movement following the teachings of Czech reformer Jan Hus , who became one of the forerunners of the Protestant Reformation...
bastion against the German catholic town of Olomouc and also acted in support of King Jirí of Poděbrady
George of Podebrady
George of Kunštát and Poděbrady , also known as Poděbrad or Podiebrad , was King of Bohemia...
against the Hungarian
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
King Mathias Corvin
Matthias Corvinus of Hungary
Matthias Corvinus , also called the Just in folk tales, was King of Hungary and Croatia from 1458, at the age of 14 until his death...
who was unable to defeat the king's troops and capture the fortress in 1468. Not even the Swedes
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
and the Danes
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
succeeded in capturing it during the Thirty Years' War
Thirty Years' War
The Thirty Years' War was fought primarily in what is now Germany, and at various points involved most countries in Europe. It was one of the most destructive conflicts in European history....
.
The castle gained its current, elongated form during the ownership of Vilém of Pernštejn, at the beginning of the 16th century, when the network of bastions and fortified outer wards was added and the system of towers and gates was changed. The most extensive alterations were carried out from 1622 by its late owners, the Ditrichtejns. The changes were limited to the interior, and most of the rooms were newly vaulted. Its building development, was strongly influenced by the Austrian
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
military administration in Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
in 1656. In 1662 it was confiscated in the aftermath of the Battle of White Mountain
Battle of White Mountain
The Battle of White Mountain, 8 November 1620 was an early battle in the Thirty Years' War in which an army of 30,000 Bohemians and mercenaries under Christian of Anhalt were routed by 27,000 men of the combined armies of Ferdinand II, Holy Roman Emperor under Charles Bonaventure de Longueval,...
and became the property of the Ditrichštejns. In the second half of the 16th century a Renaissance
Renaissance
The Renaissance was a cultural movement that spanned roughly the 14th to the 17th century, beginning in Italy in the Late Middle Ages and later spreading to the rest of Europe. The term is also used more loosely to refer to the historical era, but since the changes of the Renaissance were not...
palace with a chapel was built on the site of the inner ward, and the Pernštejn finished the grandiose building project at Helfštýn.
In the 17th century the castle was made into an almost impregnable fortress against the Turkish threat to Moravia. Soon afterwards howerver, it was abandoned, and in the 18th century highwayman Onderka's band of robbers settled in the castle. In the end it was destroyed with the approval of the Ditrichštejns. From the 19th century it became a popuar desrtination for romantic souls. Conservationn of the ruins was begun in 1911 and extensive archaeological research has been carried out since 1978.
Description
Helfštejn has five gates and four courtyards. Next to the entrance is a recently added restaurant. The pallace cellars house permanent exhibitions about the art of the blacksmith and the operation of the mint. The former ramparts now serve as viewing terraces. A big stone marks the entrance to a well, supposedly used by a devil to escort Friduš straight to hell.The Hefaiston
Hefaiston
The Hefaiston is an annual gathering and international competition of blacksmiths that is held at the Helfštýn castle, Czech Republic. It is named after the Greek god Hephaestus. The event is organized by the Comenius Museum in Přerov in collaboration with the administration of the castle since...
is an annual gathering of master blacksmiths from many countries. Examples of their art are permanently displayed around the castle. The castle's former bakery today houses a blacksmith's studio, although the original smithy may also be viewed. Other festive events are held in the castle, including theatrical performances, balls and displays of swordmanship.