Castles and ruins 24: Hrad Budyně nad Ohří, CZ

Around 12century wooden fort Budyne was reconstructed into stone castle. The castle protected town of Budyne and nearby villages well: it could accommodate lots of people and provision. The castle covered western part of the town and was surrounded by water channels from river Eger (Ohře), with several underground tunnels going from the castle to the woods.

But the castle become famous not by being a stronghold, but as an alchemists centre thanks to its owner Jan Zbyňеk Zajíc z Hazmburka (15century). Jan was emperor Rudolf II courtier and had the same passion for alchemists. In Budyne were all of them: charlatans and tricksters and real scientists as Tycho de Brahe for example or Bavor Rodovský (the last one btw wrote the oldest known Czech culinary book with interesting recipes of dishes of squirrels or beavers and such: "Kuchařství, to jest knížka o rozličných krmích, kterak se užitečně s chutí strojiti mají" – I guess looking for philosophy stone is one hungry deal). 

Jan Zajic himself was involved in all the experiments and researches – there was big laboratory at the castle and Jan was supplying it with all the necessary stuff for any amounts of money. Jan travelled far and wide for any ingredients needed and from one of these trips he brought live crocodile – the very first one in Czechia. He let him live at the water moat of the castle, where poor creature died of course in a week or so. You still can see it stuffed at Budyne municipal council.

And finally Jan Zajic with his team got to make gold from stone! Although the experiment was successful, and it is said there was enormous amount of gold, the chemicals exploded and half of the castle was destroyed. Zajic and his alchemists were killed and gold somehow disappeared. According to the other sources though Jan managed to get lots of gold and hid it below the castle, he put little gnome at the tower corner to mark the spot, but after the explosion the tower had to be reconstructed as well and where exactly gnome should sit noone knew, so they put him at the random corner.

However it was, today we cannot even find out for sure when Jan Zajic died, the castle was damaged by several explosions – this is true, and family had to sell it because there were no money left and no gold found to keep it.

New owners rebuilt the gothic castle into renaissance palace, water moat was dried up to keep mosquitos away 

and later on castle was getting more and more reconstructions to serve as a comfortable modern family seat: it got plumbing, canalization, electricity etc.

Today it belongs to the municipality of Budyne and is open for public as a museum, where you can see apart from other exhibits, original alchemist lab from Zajic times, but still no gold.

from above: Budyne