Castles & ruins 10: Zvířetice, CZ

 

At the beginning of 14th century Zdislav from Lemberk, son of Prague Burgomaster build on Jizera river a castle and named it after nearest village – Zviretice. The castle become his family homestead and he changed his name to be Zdislav from Zviretice.

Lemberk family was very rich therefore castle had it all: brewery (of course), stables, armories, vaults and granaries, storages and barracks, church and noble family' palace and so on. All this was guarded by two watch towers, drawbridge, two rows of walls and a deep ditch.
It is said that the castle was connected by underground tunnels with the village and nearest monastery (build by Zdislav' mom who btw who was proclaimed saint and is a patron of these lands since medieval times, she was so holy that she could even resurrect dead and cure any disease apparently).

Unfortunately because of the fires when castle was in use and poorly managed restoration attempts later on it is hard to say if this is true: there were found several tunnels but most probably they were used for food storage rather than connection to other places.

In 17th century castle was taken over by Waldstein family – even more rich than original owners, Waldsteins rebuilt gothic castle into Renaissance palace surrounded with parks and gardens.

It is said that Elenora Monika Waldstein while living in Zviretice learnt how to use magic and by this doubled her estates. The countess Eleonora could see the future through the time gate she've created in Zviretice, and that is how she knew the castle would be destroyed by fire soon. So she hide part of her countless treasures under the castle church and so well that even today noone could find these.