Džbán Castle, Gothic castle ruin in Lhota pod Džbánem, Czech Republic.
Džbán Castle stands on a hilltop near Lhota pod Džbánem with surviving stone foundations and wall fragments showing its Gothic origins. The remains display how this structure once occupied the elevated ground.
The castle was built between 1240 and 1250 as a royal fortress to control the surrounding territory. By the late 1200s it had to be abandoned due to unstable ground beneath the structure.
The castle site incorporates elements of both fortress and French château designs, representing an early example of Gothic military architecture in the region.
The best way to reach it is by train to Mutějovice station and then following the green hiking trail through the forest. The terrain is hilly, so wear sturdy shoes and allow time to explore the site.
The ground beneath the castle contains soft limestone that gradually sank under the weight of the walls. This geological weakness caused cracks in the structure and forced builders to abandon the project after just a few decades.
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