Točník Castle – a family trip to see animals and history

You will enjoy the view of the cherry orchard with farm animals on the way to the castle hill. A walk through its history and a number of interesting cultural events await you at the castle itself.

Točník Castle is an excellent example of advanced medieval architectural art, mixed with elements of later construction modifications, e.g. the sgraffito decoration of the burgrave’s palace . Remarkable details include the stone coat of arms gallery forming the titulary of Wenceslas IV.

In 2004, a small exhibition of the typology of castle architecture was opened in the premises of the former sacristy. This exhibition does not aim to give a complete overview of castle types in Bohemia and Moravia, but it tries to illustrate the Točník castle on the models of Vladimír Pasák and Filip Růžička as a new face of architecture that arose in the time of Wenceslas IV.If it weren’t for the arrival of the Hussite wars and the need for “refortification”, it would have developed into castle architecture far earlier than it actually was. With a bit of exaggeration, we can say that we are trying to show Točník Castle as the last castle and at the same time as the first castle in Bohemia. Točník and Žebrák castles

are located above the village of Točník, near the town of Žebrák. The construction of Točník Castle in such close proximity to the lower Žebrák Castle created the most majestic and still best-preserved hillfort in Bohemia .

Since 2019, the 4th and 5th floors of the Royal Palace have been made accessible at Točník Castle after the general reconstruction of the truss and roof, the revitalization of the premises and the construction of a new outdoor access staircase.

Unique heating system – medieval “central heating”
Točník Castle was completed in 1398 , but still has interesting building elements. It grew not only quickly, but also with many construction innovations of the time. To this day, for example, you can still see the remains of one of the first central heating systems and interestingly designed fireplaces that were able to heat the entire castle. It was an entire heating system that used vents and hollow joints in the walls. King Wenceslas IV

had the first heating . already had it built at Žebrák Castle . It was a grate on which stones were placed, under which it was melted. Warm air was blown up into the palace through a long hollow vent in the wall. At Točnik, the entire system was thought out in detail. The insides of the walls hid thermal vents, which were heated by the hot air flowing from the fireplaces. The fireplaces themselves were interestingly designed also from a construction point of view. In some places, the hearth was directly on the ground , while an ingenious draft immediately removed the smoke and heat through the inside of the walls and thus heated the entire building. You can still see the logos of the master builders of the time on the fireplaces.

Replica of the hysterical crane
A historical experiment is taking place here under the patronage of ČAV and the National Technical Museum . A replica of a medieval treadle crane was installed on the outer facade of the Royal Palace . Currently, it is used to lift hewn beams and loads under the roof of the palace (repair of the roof of the Royal Palace).

Castle bears Martin and Agáta
On January 13, 2013, bear cubs Agáta and Martin were born in Žatec . After their birth, the bear cubs lived in the game reserve of Mr. Chaloupek, who filmed the “Bear Bears on the Road” program with them for ČT Déčko. From November 23, 2013 , the bear cubs found their home in the newly reconstructed bear den under Točník Castle.