Rábí
Encyclopedia
Rabí is the largest ruined castle in south western Bohemia
, situated on a prominent hill by the central course of the River Otava, in the foothills of Šumava region, 130 km from Prague
, Czech Republic
. Its name might derive from the German
word raben (raven
), or from vrabci vrch (sparrows peak).Czech scholar Michal Novák points that one possible explanation would be that the name probably stems from the German word raben, which means "raven", or it could also suggest something like "Raven's Peak". Another explanation lies in the expression Rabiri, vernacular form of "gold-surveyors", and a third that might be a derivation from vrabec, a bird's name.
The Rabí Castle was proclaimed as National Cultural Monument in 1978.
established it after 1300 to protect trade routes along the Otava
and also to inspect gold-bearing deposits in it. Novak points out a theory which suggests that the castle was commissioned by Bavaria
n princes when the whole Sušice
region was under Bavaria
n rule, although earlier opposing views state that the castle was only built in the 14th century, constructed by the Lords of Velhartice who had estates nearby. They built a strong palace, rampart
s and a keep
. Subsequent owners, the Švihovský of Rýzmburk family, continued building work and built the outer ward and two square towers.
At the start of the Hussite rebellions
, the Švihovský family searched for havens of supporters of the Catholic side in the district and for their treasures, at Rábí. In 1420-21, the Hussites conquered the castle twice, and legend has it that during the second siege an arrow fired from crossbow hit the trunk of a pear tree and a resulting splinter from the tree hit Jan Žižka
in his only good eye. In 1479, the provincial governor Půta Švihovský of Rýzmberk became the owner of the estate and began with a thoughtful remodelling of the castle under the guidance of famous master Benedict Rejt
. New living quarters and service buildings were constructed, the castle was enlarged and the fortifications heightened.
Rabí Castle was, from the very start, envisioned as a donjon-type castle. It was built in the form of three separate sections, constructed in tiers
above each other. The rampards were up to 6 m wide, and had bastions, vallum
fortifications and moats. Howerver, building activity exhausted the Švihovský family's finances and the fortifications remained incomplete.
Many alchemical experiences took place during Půta's time as well; a German alchemist who failed to transform lead into gold was then imprisoned in the castle's massive prismatic tower. Půta had three nannies walled-in alive for turning his wife against his brothers. His son later sold the estate in 1549, but the new owners did not invest in the castle. Instead they made use exclusivelly of the existing original buildings. The following owners, the House of Chanov, from Dlouhá Ves
, bought the castle in 1570.
The slowly deteriorating complex was completely devastated during the Thirty Years' War
, when Mansfeld
's soldiers went on the rampage. Emperor Ferdinand III
ordered that the castle should have been destroyed after 1650. In the end it was saved, but on the condition that it was not to be repaired. In time it became a source of building material for local peasant
s.
The last owners, the Lamberk family (from 1708) donated the castle to the Horažďovice Society for the Preservation of Artistic, Cultural and Natural Monuments for a symbolic price of 1 Kč
in 1920, and after 1945 it was taken by the Czechoslovak State
.
Bohemia
Bohemia is a historical region in central Europe, occupying the western two-thirds of the traditional Czech Lands. It is located in the contemporary Czech Republic with its capital in Prague...
, situated on a prominent hill by the central course of the River Otava, in the foothills of Šumava region, 130 km from Prague
Prague
Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
, Czech Republic
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
. Its name might derive from the German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
word raben (raven
Raven
Raven is the common name given to several larger-bodied members of the genus Corvus—but in Europe and North America the Common Raven is normally implied...
), or from vrabci vrch (sparrows peak).Czech scholar Michal Novák points that one possible explanation would be that the name probably stems from the German word raben, which means "raven", or it could also suggest something like "Raven's Peak". Another explanation lies in the expression Rabiri, vernacular form of "gold-surveyors", and a third that might be a derivation from vrabec, a bird's name.
The Rabí Castle was proclaimed as National Cultural Monument in 1978.
History
The first mention of Rábí Castle dates from 1380, although it is not known exactly when it was founded. It is likely that the Lords of VelharticeVelhartice
Velhartice is a village in the Czech Republic dating to the 13th century, dominated by the Gothic castle Hrad Velhartice. The castle was built 1290-1310 by a nobleman who later became courtier and close friend of the Emperor Charles IV...
established it after 1300 to protect trade routes along the Otava
Otava
Otava Publishing Company Ltd. is a major Finnish publisher of books. It was founded in 1890 and now is the second largest in Finland. It publishes fiction, non-fiction, books for teenagers and children, multimedia and teaching materials. The number of new titles a year exceeds 400...
and also to inspect gold-bearing deposits in it. Novak points out a theory which suggests that the castle was commissioned by Bavaria
Bavaria
Bavaria, formally the Free State of Bavaria is a state of Germany, located in the southeast of Germany. With an area of , it is the largest state by area, forming almost 20% of the total land area of Germany...
n princes when the whole Sušice
Sušice
Sušice is a town in the Pilsen Region of the Czech Republic. It lies on the Otava River, some to the south of the regional capital of Pilsen.Sušice is also the seat of the Municipality with Extended Competence and with Commissioned Local Authority....
region was under Bavaria
Bavaria
Bavaria, formally the Free State of Bavaria is a state of Germany, located in the southeast of Germany. With an area of , it is the largest state by area, forming almost 20% of the total land area of Germany...
n rule, although earlier opposing views state that the castle was only built in the 14th century, constructed by the Lords of Velhartice who had estates nearby. They built a strong palace, rampart
Defensive wall
A defensive wall is a fortification used to protect a city or settlement from potential aggressors. In ancient to modern times, they were used to enclose settlements...
s and a keep
Keep
A keep is a type of fortified tower built within castles during the Middle Ages by European nobility. Scholars have debated the scope of the word keep, but usually consider it to refer to large towers in castles that were fortified residences, used as a refuge of last resort should the rest of the...
. Subsequent owners, the Švihovský of Rýzmburk family, continued building work and built the outer ward and two square towers.
At the start of the Hussite rebellions
Hussite Wars
The Hussite Wars, also called the Bohemian Wars involved the military actions against and amongst the followers of Jan Hus in Bohemia in the period 1419 to circa 1434. The Hussite Wars were notable for the extensive use of early hand-held gunpowder weapons such as hand cannons...
, the Švihovský family searched for havens of supporters of the Catholic side in the district and for their treasures, at Rábí. In 1420-21, the Hussites conquered the castle twice, and legend has it that during the second siege an arrow fired from crossbow hit the trunk of a pear tree and a resulting splinter from the tree hit Jan Žižka
Jan Žižka
Jan Žižka z Trocnova a Kalicha , Czech general and Hussite leader, follower of Jan Hus, was born at small village Trocnov in Bohemia, into a gentried family. He was nicknamed "One-eyed Žižka"...
in his only good eye. In 1479, the provincial governor Půta Švihovský of Rýzmberk became the owner of the estate and began with a thoughtful remodelling of the castle under the guidance of famous master Benedict Rejt
Benedikt Rejt
Benedikt Rejt was a leading medieval architect in Bohemia, today's Czech Republic. He built Vladislav Hall in Prague Castle, St...
. New living quarters and service buildings were constructed, the castle was enlarged and the fortifications heightened.
Rabí Castle was, from the very start, envisioned as a donjon-type castle. It was built in the form of three separate sections, constructed in tiers
Tiers
Tiers, also known as Ultra Checkers, is a complex variant of checkers that allows players to upgrade their pieces beyond kings. It is played on a standard eight by eight checkers board with two opposing players...
above each other. The rampards were up to 6 m wide, and had bastions, vallum
Vallum
Vallum is a term applied either to the whole or a portion of the fortifications of a Roman camp. The vallum usually comprised an earthen or turf rampart with a wooden palisade on top, with a deep outer ditch...
fortifications and moats. Howerver, building activity exhausted the Švihovský family's finances and the fortifications remained incomplete.
Many alchemical experiences took place during Půta's time as well; a German alchemist who failed to transform lead into gold was then imprisoned in the castle's massive prismatic tower. Půta had three nannies walled-in alive for turning his wife against his brothers. His son later sold the estate in 1549, but the new owners did not invest in the castle. Instead they made use exclusivelly of the existing original buildings. The following owners, the House of Chanov, from Dlouhá Ves
Dlouhá Ves (Klatovy District)
Dlouhá Ves is a village and municipality in Klatovy District in the Plzeň Region of the Czech Republic.The municipality covers an area of , and has a population of 811 ....
, bought the castle in 1570.
The slowly deteriorating complex was completely devastated 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....
, when Mansfeld
Ernst von Mansfeld
Ernst, Graf von Mansfeld , was a German military commander during the early years of the Thirty Years' War.-Biography:...
's soldiers went on the rampage. Emperor Ferdinand III
Ferdinand III, Holy Roman Emperor
Ferdinand III was Holy Roman Emperor from 15 February 1637 until his death, as well as King of Hungary and Croatia, King of Bohemia and Archduke of Austria.-Life:...
ordered that the castle should have been destroyed after 1650. In the end it was saved, but on the condition that it was not to be repaired. In time it became a source of building material for local peasant
Peasant
A peasant is an agricultural worker who generally tend to be poor and homeless-Etymology:The word is derived from 15th century French païsant meaning one from the pays, or countryside, ultimately from the Latin pagus, or outlying administrative district.- Position in society :Peasants typically...
s.
The last owners, the Lamberk family (from 1708) donated the castle to the Horažďovice Society for the Preservation of Artistic, Cultural and Natural Monuments for a symbolic price of 1 Kč
Czech koruna
The Czech koruna or Czech crown has been the currency of the Czech Republic since 8 February 1993 when, together with its Slovak counterpart, it replaced the Czechoslovak koruna at par....
in 1920, and after 1945 it was taken by the Czechoslovak State
Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia or Czecho-Slovakia was a sovereign state in Central Europe which existed from October 1918, when it declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until 1992...
.
External links
- Sušice Brána Šumavy Panoramic views of Rábí Castle.