Vildštejn Castle

The foundation of Vildštejn Castle is dated around the year 1200. It was first documented in 1224 as the predicate of the nobleman Gerold von Wiltstein, who likely belonged to the Notthafft family. Albrecht von Notthafft used the title "von Wildstein" from 1225. The Notthafft family settled at the castle after 1200, having left Cheb Castle, and expanded their possessions in the surrounding area. By the end of the 13th century, Engelhard Notthafft von Wildstein sold large parts of the lordship to ecclesiastical and secular authorities and moved to Wernberg Castle. In 1298, Vildštejn Castle was pledged to Johann Rabe von Mechelsgrün and subsequently became his property. In 1394, the patrician Frankengrüner family acquired the castle, followed by the Gumerauer family in 1439, and the Schlick counts in 1521. Albrecht von Schlick sold the castle to Wolf von Wirsberg in 1531, during whose rule the estate was divided. Johann Andreas von Trautenberg acquired the lordship in 1596. Around 1763, the buildings of the outer bailey were converted into a new castle, which served as the main residence. In 1799, Georg Johann Wilhelm acquired the Oberwildstein estate, including the castle, and later also Unterwildstein. The old castle was subsequently used for economic purposes, including as a malthouse. In 1884, Alfred and Karl Wilhelm von Helmfeld sold the Wildstein lordship to Engelhard von Wolkenstein-Trostburg, from whose descendants it was purchased by the manufacturer Geipel after World War I. After 1945, the property was expropriated.

Vildštejn Castle is located at an altitude of approximately 461 m above sea level in the village of Skalná (Wildstein) in the Karlovarský kraj (Carlsbad) in the Severozápad (Northwest) region of the Czech Republic.

Today, the Romanesque castle is privately owned and is being converted into a tourism center. Visitors can explore the historic complex.

• Starý Rybník Castle Ruin (Altenteich), approx. 1.0 km away
• Schönberg Castle, approx. 4.2 km away
• Ostroh Castle (Seeberg), approx. 7.0 km away
• Cheb Castle (Eger), approx. 9.8 km away