Hrad Houska

Over het museum

According to the latest archaeological findings, Houska Castle was founded in the first half of the 13th century by Přemysl Otakar II, almost at the same time as nearby Bezděz and by the same building workshop. It stands on the site of an older hillfort from the late 9th century. The castle was later owned by the lords of Dubá and then, among others, by the Smiřický, Hrzán of Harasov, Wallenstein and Kounic families. Over the centuries it underwent building alterations, so that all styles from the late Romanesque onwards meet in it. Its present form was determined mainly by Renaissance interventions after the Thirty Years' War, and it is best described as a Renaissance château with elements of a Gothic castle.

In 1924 the senator Josef Šimonek bought the castle. After its reconstruction the family used it as a summer and representative residence until 1939. During the Second World War the German army used it, and from 1950 the archive of the State Library in Klementinum was housed here. In the early 1990s the castle was returned to its original owners in restitution.

The most valuable part is the original Gothic castle chapel with paintings from the turn of the 13th and 14th centuries. The castle was opened to the public for the first time in its history in 1999. Today it is a place of cultural events; seasonal and permanent exhibitions also have their place here, and the hand-carved mechanical work Peklem can be seen separately in the former carriage house.

Hoogtepunten

• original Gothic castle chapel with paintings from the turn of the 13th and 14th centuries
• guided tour every hour, on the hour
• Peklem – hand-carved mechanical Hell based on the motifs of Dante's Divine Comedy
• game for young princes and princesses and a trail around the castle
• legends of the mysterious forces of the castle

Vaste collectie

• Peklem – A hand-carved mechanical Hell made of lime wood, twelve metres long and two metres high, with eleven pictures of the punishments of Hell, inspired by the first part of Dante's Divine Comedy.
• Prohlídkový okruh hradu – The guided tour covers the castle rooms, including the original Gothic chapel with paintings from the turn of the 13th and 14th centuries.

Beheerder

soukromí majitelé

Toegangsprijzen & kortingen

The basic admission applies to the main tour of the castle with a guide. Peklem is viewed separately, without a guide, for a special charge.

Toegankelijkheid

• Rolstoeltoegankelijk: geen informatie
• Lift: geen informatie
• Aangepast toilet: geen informatie
• Gehandicaptenparkeerplaats: geen informatie
• Hulphonden welkom: geen informatie
• Tastmodellen / voelbare objecten: geen informatie
• Rondleidingen in gebarentaal: geen informatie
• Informatie in eenvoudige taal: geen informatie
• Audiodescriptie: geen informatie

The website does not give information on step-free access.

Kinderen & gezin

Erg geschikt voor kinderen & gezinnen

• Gezinsrondleidingen & workshops
• Speurtocht, doeboekje of kinderaudiotour

A game and a trail around the castle and its surroundings are prepared for young princes and princesses. A family ticket costs CZK 520.

Bereikbaarheid & parkeren

Two small roads lead to the castle: from Blatce (or Tubož) and from Kruh. GPS coordinates in front of the castle gate: 50.4904153 N, 14.6237242 E.

Service & horeca

The website offers an online shop and accommodation. The page does not give information on refreshments at the castle.

Evenementen & zaalverhuur

• Ruimtes te huur
• Bruiloften / trouwceremonies

The castle offers wedding ceremonies and corporate events.

Je bezoek plannen