Stará Dubá Castle, Medieval castle ruin in Přestavlky u Čerčan, Czech Republic
Stará Dubá is a castle ruin on a promontory above the Sázava, 2.5 km north of Přestavlky u Čerčan. Its rear is buried under rubble from a collapsed great tower, and the second courtyard is filled to the level of the former upper floor. The residential core had four wings around a small rectangular courtyard.
Stará Dubá was founded in the second half of the 13th century by Ondřej of Dubá, and the first written mention dates from 1283. In 1404 the provincial levy besieged and took the castle after Jan Zoul of Ostředek seized it and used it for raids. It was destroyed during the fighting against the Strakonice Union in 1449–1450.
The castle's name comes from the Dubé family, who held it from its founding until the early 15th century. Ondřej of Dubé founded a chapel dedicated to Saint Clement in 1350, subordinate to the church at Lštění, with services held by that parish priest. The vanished town of Odranec below the walls gave the castle its outer defence.
The ruin lies on the left bank of the Sázava, 2.5 km north of Přestavlky u Čerčan; the approach is on foot, as the site has no road access. The rear of the castle is buried under rubble from the collapsed great tower, so the ground level is far higher than in the Middle Ages and the terrain is uneven. Sturdy footwear is needed.
Stará Dubá is a so-called closed castle: the rear section is buried under rubble from the collapsed great tower, so the ground level today lies well above the medieval one. The second courtyard's palace building is filled with debris up to the height of its former upper floor.
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