Kost is a High Gothic castle in Bohemian Paradise near Sobotka, owned by the Kinský dal Borgo family.
Kost is a castle in Bohemian Paradise in the Hradec Králové Region, roughly 18 km from Jičín, within the Bohemian Paradise protected landscape area. It stands on rocks about 4 km northwest of Sobotka and is among the best preserved High Gothic castles in Bohemia.[2]
History
The castle has its beginnings in the middle of the 13th century, although the exact start of construction is not known. The Vartemberk family is considered its probable founder; it had a stone fortress built with a round defensive tower, a bergfried.[1] Another text attributes the construction to Beneš of Vartemberk in the middle of the 14th century, who is said to have had a long hall and a tower built as a defensive stronghold.[2]
After the Vartemberks the castle passed through several owners. Under the Lobkowicz family, the whole southern part of today's complex, including the farm buildings with a brewery, was built at the end of the third and in the fourth quarter of the 16th century. The castle lost its residential function in 1590 with the last resident owner, Oldřich Felix of Lobkowicz, and afterwards served as the seat of estate administration with flats for officials and employees.[2]
In 1635 the castle burned down and fell into long decay. It was bought by the Netolický family. Anna Marie dal Borgo Netolická married Norbert Kinský, and their descendants are the present owners. They live permanently in Italy, and the property in Czechia is managed by the company Kinský dal Borgo.[2]
The complex
Despite many alterations, the original silhouette of the castle has survived, dominated by the prismatic Bílá věž (White Tower) and the smaller cylindrical tower Lidomorka. The complex includes the original castle palace and the later Renaissance Bibrštejnský palác and Lobkovický palác.[2] The tour also covers St Anne's Chapel, the armoury, the black kitchen and the torture chamber.[1]
The official website of the castle states that reconstruction of the Lobkovický palác, the last part of the upper complex not yet renovated, is to begin in 2025.[1]
Tours
According to the castle's website, four tour routes are offered. The Castle Palace route lasts 60 minutes and the full admission is 220 CZK. The Medieval Torture Chamber route, with a working guillotine, a witch cage and thumbscrews, also lasts 60 minutes and costs 220 CZK. The combined route through the whole castle lasts 110 minutes and costs 270 CZK. The shortened barrier-free route lasts 40 minutes and costs 130 CZK.[1] The castle also offers wedding ceremonies, including church ones in the castle chapel, and welcomes canine visitors who follow the rules.[1] The castle can be reached on foot by the yellow tourist trail from Libošovice station or from Sobotka.[2]