Cimburk, Gothic castle ruin in Koryčany, Czech Republic

Cimburk is a castle ruin located on a forested hill above Koryčany, with visible remains of defensive walls and a central tower from the medieval period. The layout follows typical patterns of a fortified structure with preserved foundations and wall edges.

Bernhard von Cimburg built the castle between 1327 and 1333 after exchanging his old stronghold near Trnávka for the Střílky and Koryčany estates, and in 1348 he moved here from the original Cimburk. His son Ctibor sold it with Střílky Castle to Margrave Johann Heinrich in 1358. In 1407 Wok IV of Holštejn seized it by force.

The castle was founded by Bernard of Cimburk, whose family gave the ruin its name; the German sources also record the older name Zinnenburg. Since 1994 the volunteer association Polypeje has carried out rescue work on the masonry, and the site has been protected as a cultural monument since 1973.

The ruin is reached via marked hiking trails from Koryčany, with the climb passing through wooded terrain. The site is best explored on foot and offers a good opportunity for a walk through nature.

The castle's elongated double-tower bergfried layout and its use of advanced stonework, with elements of French fortification architecture, make it a prime example of early 14th-century castle design. The association Polypeje has worked on its restoration since 1994.