Rotštejn Castle

History

The castle was erected shortly before 1250 by members of the Markwartic family. Jaroslav of Hrutwice, now Hruštice, built it for his son Vok of Rotštejn; his other son Zdeněk received Valdštejn Castle and founded the Waldstein line. By 1360 Ješek of Rotštejn held the castle and gained permission from Charles IV to hold a weekly market in Klokočí. The Rotštejn family died out in 1415, and the estate passed to Andrew and Vanek Paldrovi Varina, who kept it through the Hussite Wars.

The castle was probably burned by the Hussites, though some sources claim it was conquered in 1426 while its landlord lived on a farm in Klokočí; archaeological finds and written records do not confirm a Hussite presence. A 1540 report describes the castle as abandoned, with rocks and walls demolished in the courtyard. Natural erosion of the sandstone further contributed to its decay. During the Thirty Years' War, people sheltered in cavities carved into the rock, later mistaken for castle stables.

Construction

Rotštejn was built with strong elements of brick architecture, and adjacent rocks served as part of the defense system. Safety features such as gateways, bridges, and bastions were added but survive only as carved niches; all castle walls have disappeared. The castle's form is preserved in written documents. Since 1988 the civil protection association of Klokočské rocks, led by chatelaine H.T. Hlubučková, has built wooden walkways and paths allowing visitors to reach the top for a panorama. The castle area also functions as a small center for environmental and ecological education.

Legend

A legend tells of a treasure hidden beneath Rotštejn. Several locals gathered to search for it on Easter Friday, when the earth cracked open and a pile of money appeared like dancing blue flames. Only one man dared to approach; the earth closed over him and he fell asleep beside the treasure. Upon waking, the treasure was gone. After searching for a way home, he returned to find a year had passed and his neighbors had discovered the treasure but died in the quest. He lived happily on gifts from honest friends, then traveled to where money has no value and the real treasure is what men hold in their hearts.