Above the valley of the River Dyje, near the Vranov Dam, the Cornštejn castle ruin rises on a rocky isthmus. Its German name, derived from the words Zorn and Stein, literally means wrath and stone, which reflects its turbulent history. The castle was founded in the 1320s at the behest of Raymond of Lichtenburk to reinforce the defenses of nearby Bítov, and it soon became the scene of significant events. The most famous of these is the eleven-month siege by the Moravian provincial army in 1465, when the garrison surrendered only due to hunger, following Hynek of Lichtenburk's rebellion against King George of Poděbrady. After this conflict, the castle underwent a series of reconstructions and expansions that turned it into a mighty fortress with nine gates and an area of over one hectare. In 1576, however, the Lichtenburk family died out, and the castle began to fall into ruin, until it was declared desolate in 1617. Today, Cornštejn, protected as a cultural monument, is a popular excursion destination, and in a reader poll by MF DNES, it was even voted the most romantic place in South Moravia, which underscores its picturesque location in a nature reserve.
Audio guide · South Moravian Region
Cornštejn
A castle ruin above the River Dyje, which the Lichtenburk family had built in the 14th century. It became famous for Hynek's rebellion against George of Poděbrady and for its romantic setting.
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Where it is
South Moravian Region, Czechia
GPS 48.93389 N, 15.71556 E