Cornštejn Castle, Medieval castle ruins near Bítov, Czech Republic
Cornštejn is a castle complex situated on a hilltop overlooking the Dyje River Valley with thick defensive walls, multiple courtyards, and remains of two palace structures. The site features towers, ramparts, and fortification elements built across different periods and revealing how the structure evolved over time.
The castle was founded in the 1320s by Raimund of Lichtenburg and later transformed into a military fortress to defend against external threats. A major siege in the 15th century left lasting marks on both the structure and the region's history.
The fortress shows different building styles added over centuries, with traces of Gothic residential design and later military fortification architecture. Visitors can see how various periods are visible in the walls and reflect the evolution of defensive construction methods.
The site is accessible to visitors from June through September and supported by guided tours that explain the medieval fortification details. Comfortable walking shoes are recommended because of the uneven terrain and hillside location around the ruins.
The owners deliberately removed the roofs in the late 1500s as a way to avoid paying high property taxes, which hastened the structure's decline into ruins. This unusual tax-avoidance strategy permanently shaped how the site appears to visitors today.
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