Karlsfried Castle

Karlsfried Castle

Karlsfried Castle was built in 1357 by order of Emperor Charles IV by Burgrave Ulrich Tiste von Liebstein . It was not intended as a residence, but served only as a fortified customs post on the trade route ( Gabler Reichsstraße ) between the Bohemian center and Upper Lusatia . Customs duties were collected here, the castle also provided accommodation and services to merchants. In 1364, Zittau became the tenant of the castle for 300 Prague groschen. In 1412, the castle was taken over by the courtier Hinko Berka of Dubé .

In 1421 the castle withstood a Hussite siege, but was burned down during a second siege in January 1424. The castle was rebuilt under Emperor Sigismund . Its new owner, John of Wartenberg, used it as a base for raids into the surrounding area. To prevent this, the city of Zittau bought the castle in 1442 and had it demolished. Much of its ruins were taken away and reused in the surrounding area as cheap building material. For example, in 1690 the stones for the church in Lückendorf were dismantled. The rest of the rubble was used as building material for Zittau in 1721.

Below the castle there are two reconciliation crosses, which are associated with similar legends as the Žernovník spring near Krásná.