The renovation of the Gothic castle Kost has been completed, costing more than 100 million CZK

Libošovice - A large-scale reconstruction of the Gothic castle Kost in the Jičín region has been completed. The cost amounted to approximately 105 million crowns, with a grant from the European IROP program covering 80 percent of eligible expenses. This was the most comprehensive reconstruction in the modern history of the castle. Castle keeper Jan Macháček informed ČTK. The castle belongs to the Kinských dal Borgo family and is currently open to the public six days a week. More information about operations can be found on the website.

The reconstruction began in the autumn of 2019 and included the stabilization of the subsoil beneath the castle, the drainage of the area, and the remediation and stabilization of the rampart and castle walls.

"Comprehensive drainage of the entire upper area was completed, along with repairs of surfaces including the addition of paving. All the walls and the rock mass on which the castle itself stands were remediated. The goal was to stabilize the rock mass and prevent surface water infiltration. Plastering was also supplemented on the Vartemberk and Šelmberk palaces," Macháček told ČTK.

The archaeological research that preceded the construction work was also significant. New discoveries refined the dating of the castle's origin and its appearance in the 13th century. According to preliminary conclusions from the excavations, the findings shifted the castle's origin back by approximately 100 years, to the mid-13th century. They also suggested that even in the 13th century, it was a large stone castle for its time, featuring a stone entrance gate and a large defensive tower that could reach a height of up to 30 meters.

"We should have definitive results by the end of 2022 when the method of dating the mortars used in the past is expected to be fully functional. This will conclude the archaeological research, which could provide us with answers regarding the castle's beginnings," Macháček said.

The Kost Castle, located in the cadastral area of Podkost, part of the municipality of Libošovice, is considered one of the best-preserved Gothic castles in the Czech Republic. Together with its surroundings, it is a significant regional tourist destination.