Castles & ruins 30: Hrad Valečov, CZ

The castle Valecov dates back to 14^th century when it is mentioned in court proceedings between Vok from Rotštejn and Valečov owners, although most probably the castle or some kind of fort was in place much earlier. 

Archeological evidence confirms there was fortified building on the rocks where Valecov stays now, plus the Czech name testifies the castle was in place before German names become common here. 

This is the biggest Czech “rock castle” - cut from sandstone, with addition of wooden structures the castle was great stronghold. It stays on 4 big rocks which were connected to build unified construction of main seat or “palace”, stables and barracks, cellars and granaries, dungeons and armories etc. - everything to live your medieval life in full. 

The castle belonged to lesser nobles and several families took their turns during the time, at Hussits wars it was burned down and abandoned for a while, then restored. In 1555 sons of Vančura from Řehnic: Hynek and Zikmund divided the castle – literally. They cut it on half as a cake and each try to rule his part, everything was divided even the main gate was cut in two to make 2 separate entrances. 

This of course destabilized the main building and soon the castle was abandoned and was empty until 1970s when amateurs' restauration started, now continued by state, the castle ruins officially belong to the nearby village  Boseň, it is open for public for a small fee.

Sandstone around the castle allowed people to make or better say to hew simple houses all around the castle, most probably some of them were connected to the castle by tunnels, these little “huts” make a whole stone village around the castle.

There is a story about one greedy castle lady who was very wealthy. She decided to cut a secret vault under the castle for her treasures and to keep it unknown from anyone she hired workers from far to build it. When the deep storage was done she invited the builders for big meal in the castle wooden tavern and burned them all. 

So noone but her knew about the vault. Her greediness though made her go to the treasure cellar to check on her riches more and more often and one day she just disappeared from the castle and noone knew where she could be.

Since then an awful ghost started to haunt labyrinths of the castle stone undergrounds and the village: it looked like an old lady with burning eyes and long bony hands with even longer nails.

Official site:

from above: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5_4PQRVqCZQ