Castle Budyně nad Ohří, Medieval castle in Budyně nad Ohří, Czech Republic
Castle Budyně nad Ohří is a stone fortress in the small town of Budyně nad Ohří in the Czech Republic, set on a rise above the Ohře River and surrounded by a moat. The building shows Gothic walls and towers that were later updated with Renaissance features in the interiors and on the facades.
The fortress began as a wooden structure in the 12th century and was converted into stone under King Ottokar I. Over the following centuries it changed hands several times and was rebuilt each time by its new owners.
One of the rooms contains an alchemist's workshop set up as it might have looked in the Middle Ages, with vessels, tools, and substances laid out on the tables. Visitors can walk through this space and get a sense of how scholars worked in that era.
The castle is open mainly during the warmer months, and it is worth checking the visiting days in advance. The courtyard can usually be accessed even when the interior rooms are closed.
A stuffed crocodile hangs from the ceiling of the dining room, directly above the Renaissance fireplace. Displaying exotic animals this way was a way for wealthy owners to show they had access to rare creatures from distant lands.
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