History
History of Houska Castle
According to the most recent findings resulting from archaeological research, the castle was founded in the first half of the 13th century by Přemysl Otakar II almost simultaneously with the nearby Bezděz by the same construction ironworks.
Probably from the hands of Václav II it came into the possession of Ostrve, the lords of Dubá. In the period of their greatest glory, they decided on the throne as well as on the income of the crown treasury. The castle grew on the site of an originally wooden, later stone fortress (late 9th century), which the Duke of the Pšovans Slavibor founded for his son Housek. During its existence, the originally impregnable Gothic castle has undergone a number of building modifications, thanks to which we can meet all styles at Houska today, starting with the late Romanesque.
Renaissance interventions in particular determined the current form of the building and the immediate surroundings of the castle (made accessible after the Thirty Years’ War). The Renaissance castle with elements of a Gothic castle is probably the most apt characteristic for its current form.
In addition to the aforementioned rulers and lords of Dubá, the castle was owned by Jan of Smiřice, the Hrzáns of Harasov, the Wallensteins, Veronika of Sulz, Hypolita of Hofkirchen, the Kounic family, Princess Hohenlohe and Countess Andrássy.
In 1924 the castle was bought by the president of the Škoda Works, Senator Josef Šimonek. In 1928, on the 10th anniversary of the founding of the Republic, the most valuable chapel of the castle was restored. The complete reconstruction of the castle was completed in 1930. After the repairs, the castle was used as a summer and representative residence of the family until 1939. Then, due to its location in the Sudetenland, the castle was used by the German army until 1945, and from 1950 it housed the archives of the State Library in Klementinum.
After the new (copper) roofs were laid, the planned night sanatorium of Spolana Neratovice was not completed. The castle was handed over to the Institute Prague in the early 1990s, then handed over in restitution to the original owners.
These are Mr. Ing. Jaromír Šimonek and Mrs. Blanka Horová, who today are very successfully rectifying the results of forty years of state care for the monument, which, thanks to the original Gothic castle chapel, is rated as at least a Central European unique (paintings – turn of the 13th and 14th centuries).
It was not until the current owners opened Houska Castle to the general public in 1999 (for the first time in its long history!) that it was made accessible to the general public.Today, it is alive with cultural events – fairs, swordsmen, dances, crafts, singers and musicians, seasonal and permanent exhibitions, period-themed activities of individuals and companies, wedding ceremonies, etc.
Get to know this year’s programme, you will always be welcome at the House!
