Děvičky - Castle

The ruins of Děvičky Castle are located on the north-eastern tip of the Pavlov Hills in South Moravia. Its origins are linked to royal ownership – at that time, it apparently took the form of a residential tower surrounded by a wall. Later, probably during the reign of Wenceslas II, it was converted into a castle with a curtain wall, where royal castellans served. In 1334, King John of Luxembourg granted Děvičky as a fief to the Liechtenstein family, who owned it until the second half of the 16th century. They made only minor alterations (building a chapel), unless the alterations associated with Wenceslas II date back to this period. Between 1575 and 1577, the fragmented Mikulov estate was unified by the Ditrichštejn family, of whom Adam carried out the Renaissance alterations to Děvičky. This involved the addition of a transverse, two- storey east wing with a chimney, which exceeded the medieval curtain wall in size. At the end of the 16th century, the castle ‘with all its rooms, both below and above, with a forecourt and all its accessories’ remained inhabited and in use. This continued during the Thirty Years' War. According to tradition, Děvičky was destroyed in 1646 by the Swedes, who invaded in an attempt to occupy Vienna. After the war, the Ditrichštejn family ensured that Děvičky continued to serve as a border fortress. A watchman lived here, ringing bells to warn of storms and fires. From the end of the 18th century, Děvičky remained a ruin, becoming increasingly popular with visitors and tourists. It is currently cared for by the Památky Pálavy volunteer association.