Sloup

The castle Sloup ( German: Bürgstein, even hermit stone) is the most important rock castle in Northern Bohemia (Czech Republic). It was built in a single sandstone rock, which rises 40 meters above the valley floor in the middle of Sloup ( Bürgstein ). The castle rock is the largest free-standing rock in the Bürgstein - Schwoikaer Switzerland.

History

The castle probably dates from the late 13th century, when it was built by the rule of Ronauer to protect Leipaer road; The name probably derives from "Birch Stone " from. In the 14th century it came to the gentlemen Berka of Dubé, where she was until the year 1412. After that, she was briefly owned the North Bohemian nobleman Hans warning village. During the Hussite period, a Bohemian nobleman Mikes Pancíř took possession of the castle. He had to admit defeat of the army of the Six Towns League in 1445, after he had conducted several raids against the Upper Lusatia. His sons sell in 1471 the castle again to the Berka of Dubé. After Adam Berka was in 1607 died, his widow Anna married again. The rock castle became the property of originating in Meissen Johann Abraham on by Saalhausen, whose brother wolf took over later. After the Battle of White Mountain Wolf by Saalhausen Bohemia had to leave because he and his brother were facing the Catholic Habsburgs feindschaftlich. Since 1596 the castle was uninhabited and in 1639 it was set on fire during the reign of Zdeněk Lev Libštejnský by the Swedes.

As of 1690, the castle under Count Ferdinand Hroznata of Kokořovský was the hermitage. Until 1785 the castle was the abode of hermits which the caves, tunnels and halls in the rock significantly expanded and tags. This is also the common name today hermit stone is derived. The six names of hermits who dwelt here were:

• Constantine ( Baumeister, probably came from him the structural changes ),
• Wenzel / Vaclav (painter, brother of Constantine )
• Jacob Borovanský,
• Anton Hölzel (from 1720),
• Samuel Gorner (glass lens grinder, from 1735) and
• Anton Müller ( Weber, from Empire City / Zákupy arise ).

In 1785 Emperor Joseph II abolished the hermitage.

Beginning of the 20th century the castle to the public was made available.