Žulová

Žulová Castle, also historically known as Frýdberk Castle, stands as a remarkable example of a medieval hill castle in the Czech Republic. Constructed around 1290 by Jan Wisthube, the castle was built without the consent of the Bishop of Wrocław on the territory of the Otmuchów principality. The Wisthube family was notorious in the region for their acts of robbery and cruelty, using Frýdberk and the nearby Kolštejn Castle as bases for their raids.

Historical context and origins

The castle's foundation in the late 13th century places it firmly in the high medieval period, a time characterized by feudal conflicts and territorial disputes in Silesia. Its location on a steep hilltop peninsula provided natural defensive advantages, which were further enhanced by human-made fortifications. The castle was strategically important, controlling the surrounding lands and serving as a stronghold for the Wisthube family.

Architectural features and layout

Site and defensive structures

Žulová Castle was erected on the northern tip of a steep promontory, which was isolated by a wide and deep ditch approximately 30 meters wide and 10 meters deep. Access to the castle was originally via a wooden bridge on the southern side. Adjacent to the main fortress was a suburbium or lower castle area, from which the settlement of Žulová later developed.

Castle plan and walls

The castle's plan was oval, adapted to the shape of the hilltop, measuring roughly 45 by 37.5 meters. It was surrounded by a perimeter wall about 2 meters thick, reinforced with buttresses. Additionally, wooden and earth ramparts encircled the castle on the east, south, and north sides, further bolstering its defenses.

Residential buildings and chapel

Within the northern part of the courtyard stood a two-story, vaulted residential building measuring approximately 12 by 5 meters. This structure likely housed the castle chapel, an essential feature for the spiritual needs of its inhabitants.

The bergfried tower

The most prominent feature was the freestanding cylindrical stone bergfried with a diameter of about 11 meters, located near the southern entrance. The tower's walls at the base were nearly 4 meters thick, and its entrance was elevated several meters above ground level, typical for defensive purposes. The bergfried was connected to the curtain walls, possibly by a wooden walkway, and contained internal stairs hidden within the thickness of the walls leading to the top.

The tower's upper defensive platform was supported by stone corbels and crowned with battlements. The ground floor housed a notorious "starvation dungeon", accessible only through a hole in the ceiling, emphasizing the tower's role as a last refuge during sieges. This design allowed a small garrison to hold out even if the rest of the castle fell.

Ownership and historical developments

In 1325, the castle was purchased by the Haugwitz brothers—Rüdiger, Václav, and Jindřich—who continued the previous owners’ marauding activities. To end these lawless acts, Bishop Przecław of Pogorzeli bought the castle in 1358 for a significant sum of 3100 Prague groschen. Thereafter, the castle was administered by burgraves on behalf of the bishops, and it is probable that the chapel was established during this period.

Later modifications and military history

The economic downturn caused by the Hussite wars forced the bishops to pawn the castle in 1459 to Mikuláš Kotulínský, whose family owned it until 1537. Around this time, the castle’s defenses were likely modernized: the wooden-earth ramparts were replaced by stone walls forming a bailey (parcham). The entrance was fortified with a forward gate tower and a barbican, and the bridge was supported by stone pillars.

In 1582, Bishop Martin Gerstmann initiated a comprehensive renovation to make the castle the center of his estate. A commemorative plaque on the tower attests to this Renaissance-era reconstruction, although the fortifications were not significantly modernized.

During the Thirty Years' War, the castle was captured by a small Swedish force in 1639, but soon retaken by local militia led by Jindřich Obergk. The retreating Swedes partially destroyed the castle by fire and explosion, leaving it heavily damaged.

Post-medieval usage and decline

By 1650, the castle's residential buildings were in danger of collapse but were repaired and converted into a brewery, which operated from 1703. The chapel was also restored. The ruins of the castle and its tower became a symbol of the town, appearing on the municipal coat of arms with a small tree growing atop the cylindrical tower.

When Frýdberk was granted town rights in 1793, the castle ruins were emblematic of its identity despite lacking a parish church. To address this, Bishop Joseph Christian Hohenlohe-Bartenstein donated part of the castle grounds for church construction. The surviving tower was extended with a dome and a simple nave was added, with the church completed in 1810.

In the early 19th century, the castle walls were dismantled, leaving the cylindrical bergfried standing to the height of the fourth floor. Today, visitors can see the remains of this tower and the northern wall arch, which is the foundation of the former presbytery.

Architectural significance and current condition

Žulová Castle is a significant example of a hill castle that evolved through the medieval and early modern periods. Its defining feature, the massive cylindrical bergfried, exemplifies typical defensive architecture of the region, designed for last-resort defense. The castle’s layered fortifications, including the ditch, curtain walls, and ramparts, showcase medieval military engineering adapted to the natural terrain.

Today, the castle stands as ruins, primarily represented by the preserved bergfried and some wall remnants. Its rich history, from its origins as a robber baron stronghold to a bishop's estate center, and later transformation into a brewery and church site, reflects the complex socio-political changes in Silesia over centuries.

Visiting Žulová Castle

Visitors to Žulová can explore the evocative ruins and appreciate the castle’s strategic hilltop location, which offers scenic views of the surrounding landscape. The site provides insights into medieval fortification techniques and the turbulent history of the region. Although only partial structures remain, the castle’s historical and architectural legacy continues to attract scholars and tourists alike.