The Pecka Castle

Pecka Castle, the pearl of the Podkrkonoší region, is the dominant feature of the town of the same name in the Jičín district. The view from the castle includes the Krkonoše Mountains with Sněžka and Černá Hora, and the highest point of the region, Zvičina. The first written mention of the castle dates back to 1322 when Budivoj of Pecka was supposed to be its owner. The castle had two defensive towers connected by a fortification wall and one residential palace in the southern part of the courtyard. A moat was dug around the castle, so access was only possible via a drawbridge. From the end of the 15th century, the castle owners sought to further expand the living quarters in the Gothic style, and from the second half of the 16th century a complete Renaissance reconstruction was gradually realised. Kryštof Harant of Polžice and Bezdružice completed the interior renovation at the beginning of the 17th century. After the tragic death of Kryštof Harant on the Old Town execution grounds in June 1621, Albrecht von Wallenstein acquired Pecka. Hardly ever inhabited, the castle fell into disrepair over the years. A large fire in 1830 put a definitive end to its glory. The castle has been used as a tourist attraction since 1968 and, today, it can be viewed thanks to two guided tours. The historical tour introduces you to the life of the castle’s most famous owner, Kryštof Harant, a traveller, writer, composer and politician. In 2012 the original entrance to the cellars was restored directly from the courtyard and, thanks to this, a second separate tour route of the Harant Cellars was created, which gives an insight into the everyday life of the castle during the time of Kryštof Harant.