Friday, July 14, 2006

Bezdez - July 2006

(Ceska Lipa Region) A silhouette of ruin of the castle established by Premysl Otakar II in 1264 on the higher of the two neighbouring hills is visible from a distance. Otakar's son Wenceslas II and Ota Braniborsky were kept there as prisoners in 1279. In the 17th century. the abandoned castle was sought out by pilgrims and later became a monastery. The greatly admired early-Gothic chapel of St.Michael marks Bezdez out as unique example of 13th century castle architecture, having experienced no subsequent alterations.