Hrad Kost

About the museum

Kost Castle was built in the middle of the 13th century, although the exact start of construction is not known. It was probably founded by the Vartemberks; the first written mention dates from 1349, when Beneš of Vartemberk signed himself “de Costy”, which gave the castle its name. His son Petr of Vartemberk, court master under Charles IV, had the original wooden fortress rebuilt as a stone castle, whose form has survived to this day. In the 15th century the castle was held by the Zajíc z Házmburka family, followed by the Šelmberks and the Biberštejns, of whom Jan of Biberštejn had a new residential palace built in 1545.

In the mid-16th century Kryštof Popel of Lobkovice took over the estate; he had a brewery and the Lobkovice Palace added. His son Oldřich Felix was the last owner who actually lived at Kost. In 1632 Albrecht of Wallenstein bought the estate, but after his murder in Cheb the property returned to Polyxena of Lobkovice, who sold it to the Černín family. They rebuilt the freshly burned castle and used it as the economic centre of the estate. Later the castle belonged to the Netolický z Eisenberka family, the Vratislav z Mitrovic family and finally the Italian dal Borgo family.

In 1948 the castle was confiscated from Anna Maria dal Borgo Netolická, and under communism it served as a museum of Gothic and Renaissance art. After 1989 the property was returned in restitution to the Kinský dal Borgo family, and today the castle is owned through the joint-stock company Kinský dal Borgo. Visitors can see the castle palaces, the Chapel of St Anne, the black kitchen and the medieval torture chamber, and climb to the ground floor of the Great White Tower.

Highlights

• castle palaces with Kinský family collections and an armoury with pistols and rifles
• medieval torture chamber with a working guillotine, a witches’ cage and thumbscrews
• Chapel of St Anne and the black kitchen
• ground floor of the Great White Tower with a model of the castle and a computer animation of its development
• shortened step-free route through the courtyards
• restaurant U Draka with an outdoor terrace in the castle grounds

Permanent exhibitions

• Okruh I – Hradní paláce – The tour introduces the fates of the castle’s owners, leads through the castle palaces and the armoury with its collection of rifles and pistols, and shows notable members of the Kinský family.
• Okruh II – Středověká mučírna – The exhibition explains medieval capital jurisdiction in the castle’s torture chamber, with a working guillotine and a witches’ cage. It also leads through the black kitchen and the ground floor of the Great White Tower with its model of the castle.

Operated by

Kinský dal Borgo, a.s.

Admission & discounts

The basic price applies to Tour I – Castle Palaces (about 60 minutes). Tours are with a guide; payment is possible in cash or by card, and tickets are also available online. Dogs enter free.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

Tour IV is step-free, although because of the more demanding terrain of a medieval castle it is recommended to take it with a companion. The other tours lead through the castle courtyards and staircases. Dogs are welcome in the courtyards and on tours, on a leash.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

Children up to and including age 5 enter free. The combined tour is long and its commentary detailed, so it is not recommended for small children; Tour IV, which lasts 40 minutes, is more suitable. Dogs are welcome at the castle.

Getting there & parking

Further bus connections from Turnov and Mladá Boleslav stop at the Pomníky crossroads in Podkost; from there a red hiking trail (about 1.5 km) leads to the castle.

Amenities & dining

• Restaurant
• Museum shop

In the castle grounds is the restaurant U Draka, with an indoor hall, a large outdoor terrace and a grill. Themed souvenirs, keepsakes and postcards are sold at the ticket office. Electric bicycles cannot be charged in the grounds; a first-aid kit and tools for repairing bicycles are available at the ticket office.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Private parties
• Corporate events
• Weddings / ceremonies

Up to 150 guests.

You can hire the Castle Palace with its large dance hall (up to 150 people), the Sala terrena in the courtyard (up to 80 people) and the Last Courtyard for open-air events (up to 80 people). Weddings are also held in the castle chapel.

Plan your visit