Sumava History

The extraordinary Vimperk Castle will guide you through its golden age and everything that followed.

The Janovic family ruled the Vimperk region until 1375, when the castle and its grounds were pledged to Jan Rotlev, a wealthy Prague burgher and master of the royal mint in Kutná Hora. In 1494, the castle and town passed to the Malovec family of Chýnov. The estate was confiscated from the Malovecs by King Ferdinand I for their participation in the Bohemian Estates’ rebellion in 1547. The Holy Roman Emperor then sold the Vimperk estate to Jáchym of Hradec (Jindřichův Hradec), who sold it a year later to Vilém of Rožmberk. The Rožmberks began the reconstruction of the Gothic castle into a Renaissance chateau; they sought refuge in Vimperk during plague epidemics and rested here in the fresh mountain air. In 1565, Vilém transferred the estate to his brother, Petr Vok of Rožmberk. In 1601, Petr Vok sold the rebuilt castle to Volf Novohradský of Kolovraty. It was likely then that the Lower Castle was built, where after 1610 a painted ceiling covering nearly 250 square meters was created, ranking Vimperk among the premier Renaissance castles in the context of all Central Europe.

 

Spend the night at the castle! This is camping as it should be. Set up camp right at Helfenburk Castle. Experience the adventure of exploring the castle and spend the night like bandits from a fairy tale. The magical atmosphere of the largest castle ruins in Bohemia will fill your veins with adrenaline.