Old Světlov

The castle, originally called Světlov, originated as early as the second half of the thirteenth century, and the first written mention of its owner dates back to 1275. From the end of the same century, it was held by the Lords of Šternberk, and later it was also owned by Queen Barbara of Cilli, wife of Sigismund of Luxembourg. In 1470, the estate was acquired by the brothers of Landštejn, who, however, decided to build a new residence above Bojkovice, and so around 1490, they moved to Nový Světlov. The Old Castle thus lost its significance, and already in 1517, it is mentioned as abandoned. Later, it even served as a refuge for brigands, which led to its official demolition. From the eighteenth century onwards, stones were also taken from it as building material, so today the area mainly consists of massive ramparts and remnants of masonry scattered around an oval core with a diameter of about fifty meters. The site has been protected since 1964, and in recent years, its gradual conservation has been underway, so visitors here will experience a walk through an ancient fortified place in the middle of the forest rather than a castle.