Hartenberg

The Gothic castle ruins Hartberg, also Hrad Hartenberk, is a castle ruin in Hartberg ( Hřebeny ), incorporated today after Josefov in Czech Okres Sokolov. This is located on the Zwodau above Hřebeny.

As a castle of the noble family of the Vogtland region of Herten mountain they arose at the beginning of the 13th century and was first mentioned in 1214. This castle was built in a strategic location on the road from Saxony and Thuringia to Bohemia on a rocky height above the Zwodau. It was a border fortress.

In the area lead ore was mined. Several tunnels testify. Below the castle are the ruins of a Bohemian brewery.

In the heyday of Hartberg had a library and various collections, surrounded by well maintained trails, a theater, castle pond, greenhouses with tropical plants, school. Goethe celebrated his 72nd birthday there and there should have written his elegy.

The castle was destroyed several times and rebuilt. The castle building fell into disrepair in the 1980s to the ruins and is now partially restored by collecting private donations. A tour of the site is possible. The castle is a student base of voluntary work in Europe.

The road to the castle is not signposted. On the outskirts of Josefov in Krajkova direction, right downhill the road. Per foot of the castle can be reached uphill from the Luh nad Svatavou station, past the ruins of the former brewery.

View from the access road