Castle & ruins 28: Hrad Krašov, CZ
Krasov castle guards entrance to the Czech kingdom by river Brounka since 13th century. But the castle might be much older (the wooden fort could be in place since 9 century) as the location is significant for the whole country and taxing traders always was a good business.
First written sources mention the stone castle of Krasov as property of family Hroznata (again, one of the oldest noble families of Czechs), since 1230. Archeological survey confirms that around 13th century the castle already existed here, and at that time building stone castles was allowed for higher nobles only.
The castle had many owners during its long history, some of their coats of arms you can see on castle wall of today.
The castle owners collected custom fees and other duties for the crown and of course did not forget themselves, quite a fortune was accumulated here spreading rumors and legends about riches and buried treasures. All this wealth required protection so people fantasy got lots of legends ready about magical powers controlling the castle and its wealth. One for example tells about some stove maker who fond some strange book in the wall while repairing a stove in the castle, so he took the book with him. At home he started to read the book but at the moment when he opened the first page a flock of black crows fly into his house and sit all around him. He got scared, closed the book but crows were following him everywhere. Poor man run to the priest seeking help and told him all about his plight. The priest took the book and told him the crows are awaiting his orders: whoever read the book gets power over them, so the priest order the crows to clear stones from the village' filed and begone, and return the book to the castle.
Krasov had the same fate as most of Czech castles: almost destroyed at Husit wars it was restored later as hunting lodge, then family mansion then eventually it got into the hands of the Order of Cistercians. The monks though used the castle as a brothel – or at least that was the reason why Emperor Joseph II ordered to destroy the castle in 1785 (and kicked out the order from his lands – but that was not because of Krasov at all).
Since then the castle stays in ruins and locals used its stones as construction material. Only in 1931 the restoration started and today is carried on by volunteers of: http://www.hradkrasov.cz
There is another sad legend about Krasov rich owners: it is said there was brave and wise knight in the castle who served the king honestly and taxed traders fair. His riches were subject of envy of many and one of the knights of Libštejn once attacked Krasov at night and while there were fight and confusion, kidnapped Krasov knight' wife and kids and run away. It took some time for Krasov knight to gather an army and get to Libštejn to rescue his family, after long siege he got into the castle and at the sword point made Libstejn knight to bring him to the dungeon where his wife and kids were. But what he saw was not a happy sight: instead of the family there were only their bones. In his wrath he killed everyone there but died himself of wounds, and people of Libstejn were so frightened of this they just put lots of stones over the dungeon. But souls of the dead were not rested and bothered people with their wailing ever since. Only many years later one villager with the priest cleared the stones and buried the dead properly and this finally brought peace for the dead souls and people around.
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