Rabí Castle (Czech Republic)
Bohemia See list of castles in Repubblica Ceca
The core of the castle was built in the mid-14th century as a watchtower, defense and accommodation. The castle had a great location. Its task was first to defend the trade route, which connected the two cities: Sušice and Horažďovice and, secondly, to defend the washing of gold along the river and in the river Otava.
The first written report in our possession dates back to the year 1380, when the rightful owners were members of the most important and influential Bohemian noble family - "The Rosenberg family". The Švihovský family from Rosenberg bought the castle or obtained it by marriage from the noble family of Velhartice during the 14th century. At the turn of the 15th century the castle was rebuilt and fortified. It has since become one of the most massive and safest castles in Bohemia. It most likely happened due to battles between supporters of King Wenceslas IV and members of the lordly unit, to which the owner of the castle, Břeňek Švihovský of Rosenberg also belonged.
Jan of Rosenberg obtained the entire estate with the castle in the year 1407. Jan (John) of Rosenberg was known as a public political figure and later as an enemy of the Hussite movement. This is why the Hussite armies twice besieged the castle and twice seized, precisely in 1420 and 1421. Jan Žižka lost his second eye in the second siege of the castle. This event put Rabi Castle on the map.
The castle passed to Wilhelm Junior of Rosenberg after the death of John of Rosenberg and then the castle fell to his grandson, Půta II Švihovský of Rosenberg. Půta Švihovský was enormously wealthy and his fortune and high rank in society (the highest provincial) allowed him to beautifully rebuild his castle. The reconstruction conducted by the skilled architect Benedict Rejt. Massive walls with advanced artillery bastions surrounded the castle. Puta was very rich, but no longer his children. His sons, who had owned the Castle since 1504, were unfortunately in debt and were forced to sell off their assets. In 1548 they also had to sell the castle of Rabí.
In later times, many owners lived in the castle: Henry Kurcpach from Trachenberg, Diviš Malovec from Libějovice, Wilhelm Rosenberg. The last major owner was Adam Chanovský of Dlouhá Ves - his family owned the castle until the early 18th century. After the Thirty Years War the building passed to the noble Lamberg family, but the castle was already desolate by this time.
The final destruction caused a fire in 1720, later serving the Castle as a source of building stone for the villagers. The Lamberg aristocratic family gave the castle to the "Society for the Preservation of Art, Historical and Natural Monuments" in 1920. The symbolic price was 1, - Kč. In this period, the castle was repaired and saved from total collapse. In 1945 the Castle was nationalized and in 1978 it was proclaimed a National Cultural Monument.