History

The sandstone foundations of the building were laid at the beginning of the 14th century and were used as the foundations of the present Medieval Hotel. In recent past, 1500 m3 of attic space was used as a fodder storeroom and after expensive reconstruction and changing the purpose of the building it does not harm the conservation or architectonic value of the building. The Medieval Hotel was reconstructed and opened in 2009 with the financial assistance of the European Union.

Legend

In the 13th century, the lord owning what was then a Gothic fortress, Beneš of Dětenice, defeated cruel Artur and converted the wooden fortress into a stone house and annexed a watchtower. Already at that time he got the tower secretly connected through underground corridors to his building so that he could leave unnoticed anytime.

This secret corridor was also used by Beneš Bílý, a valiant warrior and successor of the family tradition. He won most of his battles, too. He brought a beautiful girl from one of his military campaigns as a war loot intended to serve him as his slave. When coming back home, he imprisoned the girl in an underground cell of the watchtower so that his pious wife would not learn about her. He first sought the girl‘s advice, then pleasure. He fell completely for her beautiful riveting eyes. The exotic girl had a faculty to have visions thanks to intoxicating potions she made for herself from magic herbs and managed to use her magic power to help Beneš out of any tight spot and even help him get out of a row unharmed.

The presence of the sorceress remained concealed for a long time. For a long while she fulfilled all Beneš’s wishes and was also his mistress. Beneš showed less and less interest in his tight-laced wife and avoided her. However, a snitch hired by the suspicious wife found the entrance to the secret corridor. He tailed Beneš on his way to the underground vault and then disappeared unnoticed to reveal everything to his wife. Hell has no fury like a woman scored.

She waited for Beneš to leave for another battle and her wicked flunkies then pulled the sorceress from the cell and wanted to burn her at stake. However, she scoffed at the Inquisition saying that fire can not harm her power nor body as the magic power would protect her. For fear of her power and Beneš’s revenge they chose a death most cruel. She was walled up alive in her underground cell.

Beneš, coming back from the last battle, could not accuse anyone of her disappearance as he and his dumb servant were the only people knowing about the girl. The search brought no results and in the end Beneš started believing that the girl had left on her own. He had the underground corridor filled up and spent the rest of his life grieving the loss of his mistress.

The château still features remains of Early Gothic foundations. And the place where the watchtower used to stand?

An almshouse was later built there, then replaced by outbuildings and now it is the location of the Medieval Hotel.

Do you know now why you hear weird noises, wailing and scratching at full moon?

This is not a fairy tale, it is history and the present.

Sleep on if your conscience is clear …