Hrad Kost/ Castle Kost

DATE: April 2025

COMMENTARY/FEEDBACK: 

Hrad Kost/Castle Kost is located approximately 80 kilometres north-east of the city of Prague. Journey time by car is approximately 75 minutes. 

The castle stands alone in an extensive area of parkland and the word "kost" in Czech means 'bone.' The castle was probably given this name as a result of its formidable defensive position perceived impregnability and throughout the castle's  history it was never fully conquered. 

There is a substantial car park which is located just outside the castle gate and in addition it is here that you will find public washrooms and conveniences would they be required. Within the castle walls there is a restaurant/coffee shop with both indoor and outdoor seating and a fairly extensive menu of snacks and Czech cuisine.

At the time of my visit, I did not go into the castle itself but walked around. In addition I took a walk through part of the parkland opposite the castle and if the weather is nice, I can recommend the walk which takes you past some very interesting rock formations. Please see the photographs as below.

I very much recommend a visit to the castle. 

In addition to driving, (either by hire car to ones own vehicle), the following website will help you determine travel via public transport: https://www.rome2rio.com/s/Prague/Kost-Castle. Please also look at the castle website: https://www.kost-hrad.cz/ which gives full details about the castle and is in both Czech and English language.

A SUMMARY HISTORY

Castle Kost is a well-preserved Gothic castle in the Czech Republic, located in the Bohemian Paradise (Český ráj) region. Built in the late 14th century by the noble Vartemberk family, it is unique for its strategic position on a rocky promontory, making it one of the few castles in Central Europe that was never conquered. The castle features a distinctive trapezoidal tower, designed to deflect cannon fire, and a mix of architectural styles due to later renovations.

Today, Kost Castle is a popular tourist attraction, offering guided tours that showcase its medieval interiors, dungeons, and historical artifacts. It also hosts cultural events, reenactments, and exhibitions about medieval life.

KOST CASTLE

Kost Castle, located in the Bohemian Paradise region of the Czech Republic, is one of the country’s best-preserved Gothic castles. Its origins date back to the mid-14th century when Beneš of Vartemberk initiated its construction.   The name “Kost,” meaning “bone” in Czech, is believed to reflect the castle’s reputed impregnability.

After Beneš’s death, his son Peter completed the castle, maintaining its distinctive silhouette that remains largely unchanged today.   Over the centuries, Kost Castle changed hands among several noble families, including the Zajíc of Hasenburg around 1414 and the Schellenberg family from 1497 to 1524, who added the western wing.   Subsequent owners, such as the Lobkowicz family until 1576, further fortified the castle by integrating surrounding buildings into its defences.

In the late 17th century, the Czernin family acquired Kost Castle, followed by Wenzel Kasimir Graf Netolitzky von Eisenberg in the mid-18th century. Through inheritance and marriage, the castle eventually came under the ownership of the Kinský family.  During the communist era, the Czechoslovak government seized the property, but it was restituted to the Kinský dal Borgo family in 1993.   

Architecturally, Kost Castle is notable for its trapezoidal “White Tower,” designed to deflect cannon fire by causing projectiles to glance off its slanted walls.  The castle’s well-preserved interiors include palaces, the Chapel of St. Anna, a medieval torture chamber, and a Renaissance-era black kitchen. 

Today, Kost Castle is open to the public, offering guided tours that showcase its rich history and architectural significance.