ekov castle perched atop cliff above the river elbe near city nad labem czech republic

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StÃâ¢ekov Castle is perched atop a cliff above the River Elbe, near the city of ÃÅ¡stÃÂ nad Labem in the Czech Republic. Royalty Free Stock Photo

StÃâ¢ekov Castle is perched atop a cliff above the River Elbe, near the city of ÃÅ¡stÃÂ nad Labem in the Czech Republic.

Aerial view of Strekov castle ruin near Usti nad Labem above the Elbe river in Czechia Royalty Free Stock Photo

StÃâ¢ekov Castle was built in 1316 for John of Luxembourg, the father of the Holy Roman Emperor Charles IV, to guard an important trade route to Germany. After changing hands several times, the castle was acquired by the Lobkowicz family in 1563. Its strategic importance led to occupations by Imperial Habsburg, Saxon, and Swedish forces during the Thirty Years` War, as well as successive sieges by Austrian and Prussian armies during the Seven Years` War. Although StÃâ¢ekov Castle was heavily damaged during those conflicts and abandoned as a military installation by the end of the 18th century, the 1800s saw many poets and artists visiting the castle, drawn by a new trend of interest in romantic ruins. Goethe declared the view from the castle`s position above the Elbe to be the most beautiful in Central Europe, while Richard Wagner`s opera TannhÃÂ¤user was supposedly inspired by his visit to StÃâ¢ekov