Najštejn Castle, castle
Najštejn Castle is a ruin perched on a rocky ridge above the Jirkov reservoir near Květnov. The site once contained a two-story palace, a deep defensive ditch, and a water well, of which only earthworks, scattered stones, and ground depressions now remain.
Nejrich of Alamsdorf likely built this fortress around 1323 as a small defensive structure with partly wooden construction on natural rocky ground. The castle changed hands several times and was sold around 1381 to the Chomutov Knights, after which it was quickly abandoned.
The castle carries the name of the Alamsdorf family who built and lived here, using it as a seat of power for their lands. Visitors can sense how important such fortifications were to the region and how they shaped daily life for those who depended on their protection.
The ruins are freely accessible and can be explored anytime, reached via a roughly 1.5 kilometer forest path from the nearby village of Orasín. Since there are no facilities on site, visitors should wear comfortable hiking shoes and bring water.
A man-made cavity carved into the rock face below the castle likely served as a cistern or well to store water during prolonged sieges. This hidden feature reveals how carefully the inhabitants planned their defensive resources against attack.
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