Texts – to be translated into several languages
Welcome to Hartenberg!
Hartenberg the castle is located in the idyllic and lovely valley of the river Svatava, seven kilometers away
from its confluence into the river Ohře, the largest river of the foothills of the Ore Mountains. The
beautiful landscape contrasts with the name of the castle: Hartenberg means "hard rock" in German – those
who visit the castle and familiarise themselves with its history will understand the reasons for the name.
In the past, the castle was besieged, captured, and plundered several times and its foundations were often
shaken by local earthquake clusters. The castle burst into flames many times, with the last three fires in the
years 1985–1991 graduallydestroying the palace, court, and finally the tower. The castle has not recovered
from that shock yet.
The extent of the damage was enormous; the north
part of the palace collapsed to its foundations, the
tower fell into unstable ruins, all wooden
constructions were devastated, and the courtyard
buildings almost disappeared.
Nevertheless, the restoration of the castle is a very
urgent task, because the castle representsone of the
oldest castle ruins in Bohemia. The castle has a long
and rich history, and plays a crucial role in the
understanding of not only the superregional but also
the complex international relationships of that time.
The international significance of the castle survives to this day. Several international volunteering
projects are held each year since 2000 in collaboration with INEX-SDA. These projects have been a big
success, not only at a national level but also internationally. Hundreds of people from over 55 different
countries, including Australia, Mexico, Brazil, Japan, Malaysia, the United States and Canada, volunteered
to help with the restoration of the castle, which has become a popular and well-liked base for student
volunteering projects in Europe.
Besides these events, the castle continues to live its regional life with an extensive calendar of events, the
most popular being: "Hartenberg Scare", and "St Nicholas Ride". The atmosphere and collaborative spirit of
these events attract thousands of people each year. Have a look at the castle, enjoy the spacious interior,
and host your own event here or one for your children. The gates of this provincial "kingdom" remain open
to all who would wish to roam around a magical region steeped in rich history, and full of the beauty of its
landscape. Start following in the footsteps of J. W. Goetheor Count Koplova. Come and try to breathe in the
atmosphere of this ancient shady nook full of history.
Events
Lasting a day or a few, it's been some years we are preparing several activities with help of
volunteers from both the Czech republic and abroad. More information at events. (English)
Three Kings
As well as every year, there will be a fair from far and wide to Hartenberg on the 6th January. People
participate in the traditional Three Kings Mass to be held in the local chapel, which is dedicated to Three
Kings. It is a long tradition here. Every year, we let ourselves be lead by these biblical figures into the
chapel to commemorate this special day. Always storytelling, festive atmosphere and music, even cakes
which have always belonged to the local festive evening.
Burning Witches Day
With a great help of Josefov community, we organize a very unusual burning of witches in a mediavel
spirit several years. At first, the event started in the castle courtyard, where old women stray were
captured, then transported to a nearby village by cart, which was accompanied by a folk parade. The
inquisition decided about their fate there, and a hangman took their lives. After the fair case was finished,
all people celebrated it by eating and drinking enough.
Torture, interrogation, denouncing and finally a fair case for those witches. For they had committed a
crime and jinxed a farmer's cow! No worries, this event is original and entertaining. You all may be sure
that everyone will enjoy the show. All of you invited.
Hartenberg Casual School
Physics, mathematics, Czech, history, drama etc. - an educational trail in the countryside together with a
culture event in the castle courtyard full of stands and medieavel crafts take place in the castle and its
surroundings for many years. Pupils from local schools attend a diverse programme full of educational and
entertaining nature shows run by students of ISŠTE Sokolov and representatives of Civic Association
Hartenberg, Josefov community and Sokolov council. The goal is to introduce to pupils common school
subjects like full of fun.
As usual, there are dozens of habitats in the surroundings, in each children will learn about nature as well
as history of the region. Curios visitors may try to conquer the castle, or find out some interesting facts
about home countries of many international volunteers, helping to prepare the annual event.
Theatre Festival-Workshop
International Theatre Festival-Workshop "Hartenberg" is a creative space, in which theatre groups from
different countries of the world will meet first of all for an experience exchange (on-stop general
trainings) and of course they will be ready to show their performances in the castle. It has all chances to
become one of the key projects to represent the castle as an object of art and tourism.
The festival will happen in summer. Every year, you may loook forward to new theatre groups and
performances.
More info here. Become our fan on Facebook!
Hartenberg Scare
As usual, the first Saturday in October belongs to magic and powerful creatures from the other
world, attempting to remind us their existence and revive old myths. They come to the castle
again, for autumn fogs attract them to make fun with both children and adults. They like the little
ones, especially. All these ghosts and other creatures, such as dwarfs, elves, orcs, fairies or white
ladies settle down in the ruins of the castle and its surroundings in the evening. They are ready to
welcome all visitors in their way hiding themselves behind trees, along paths and wherever
possible or impossible. Those who are brave enough to wander the whole way back to the castle
may expect a reward at the end of the scary evening.
St. Nicholas Ride
Different kinds of devils, evil ghosts and creatures from the underground take part in this traditional St.
Nicholas Ride every year. They will be waiting for visitors from our world to play dice or other games, in
which they can compare their powers with terrestrials. They especially like to compete with the little ones,
they test their qualities and characters. The most willful and disobedient children will be thrown into
devil's sack and left to them for the next year to their service. That's the only way they may become better.
On the contrary, all good visitors will be rewarded by angels. If visitors manage to go through the whole
devil's path, they will meet St. Nicholas and his helpers with their pockets full of sweets and small rewards.
All the happenings will be accompanied by a diverse entertaining programme and barbecue in the castle
and gypsies courtyards.
Photogallery
Welcome to the photogallery. Please use the English or Czech version.
English
Czech
Projects
Our retentive endeavor of restoration and re-use of the castle and its surroundings comprises a lot of
short-termed as well as long-termed projects and activities, mainly as following:
Reconstruction of the castle and its surroundings:
building works, archaeological research
historical research
building restoration and implementation of
complex projects
Environmental projects:
the life in the third millenium - local, regional, supraregional, global
Days and Weeks For Earth, conferences, work brigades
and workshops, mowing meadows, winding up
invasive plants
rehabilitation and maintenance of the landscape,
mapping, planning and strategy
Volunteering projects:
With a great help of INEX-SDA, we organize
several projects every year. We started in 2000.
Volunteers can participate in workcamps,
envirocamps or artcamps.
Only a few young people came to Hartenberg for the first time. Nowadays, there are dozens of participants
who are willing to help rebuilding the castle and its surrounding park, or help to document and capture
the scenic environment rack.
Educational projects:
from the smallest children through high school and
college ones to seniors
workshops, seminars and conferences
Hartenberg Casual School, environmental
education, Days of CZ Forests etc.
Cultural projects and events:
Hartenberg Scare, St. Nicholas Ride
artcamps, exhibitions, concerts and theatre
crafts, international cooperation and exchanges
etc.
Resocialization projects:
individual and group projects to renew the cultural and natural heritage, PMS, GIC etc.
Workcamps
Many young people from over the world come to Hartenberg every year. They work with shovels, pickaxes
or wheelbarrows full of bricks. While helping to restore the old castle, they make a lot of both local and
international friends and have a lot of fun.
Envirocamps
Focusing on environmental protection and protection of cultural values, envirocamps offer nature and
animal-lovers enough time to explore the region. The tasks are to organize cultural and social events and
seminars, and to work on centralization of information about the area to further publication and on
support and development of volunteering.
ARTcamps
Workcamp participants, which are non-professional artists from the whole world, artistically document
the Hartenberg castle and its surroundings, historical figures, the local fauna and flora. They create and
promote audio-visual materials, such as logos, brochures, leaflets, postcards, photos, videos etc., and
organize an exhibition at the castle.
This project is the only one of this kind in the Czech republic.
Civic Association Hartenberg
Civic Association Hartenberg is a voluntary, non-governmental, non-profit association of citizens who
have joined together to work actively on protection and restoration of cultural and natural heritage,
especially in the Hartenberg village and its surroundings. Furthermore, this association aims to develop
civil society by disseminating of ideas of volunteerism, interception and fulfilling of cultural life,
popularization and promotion of other community goals.
Volunteering Academy: IVAH
International Volunteering Academy of Hartenberg is a non-formal group of volunteers from all over the
world. It was established in 2010, which happened only because of members attempting this interests
group. Its main task is to spread volunteering activities in the region as well as organize international
projects together with Civic Association Hartenberg .
Currently, there are approximately twenty of members, helping to prepare international activities,
coordinate partnerships with non-profit organizations in their countries, translate these websites into their
mother tongues, create e-newsletter HeART Echo, promote Hartenberg the castle and volunteering in
general by making information materials etc.
If you want to join us, please contact us: hartenberk(at)gmail.com.
Volunteer! Make a difference.
Partners
We appreciate cooperating with volunteers, sponsors and friends. Our gratitude goes to all of them. Thank
you very much.
Media
Would you like to make a report or write an article for your magazine?
Please contact us: hartenberk(at)gmail.com.
Thank you for your interest. We are looking forward to further cooperation.
Contact us
Castle address:
Hartenberg
Hřebeny 1, 357 09 Josefov, e-mail: hartenberg(at)seznam.cz, tel.: +420 607 649 997
Sending information etc.:
hartenberg(at)seznam.cz, www.hartenberg.cz
Civic Association details:
Hartenberg Civic Association
Martina Vavřínová, chairman, e-mail: hartenberg(at)email.cz, tel.: +420 606 153 664
INEX-SDA:
Renata Lupačová, e-mail: projekty(at)inexsda.cz
If you would like to support our projects, send us any amount on our account 226233990-0300.
Contributions will be used to restore the castle and promote of volunteerism in the region. Thank you.
Opening hours
In the winter - October to March - the castle is open
daily from 10 a. m. to 4 p. m.
In the summer – April to September – the castle is open
daily from 9 a. m. to 5 p. m.
It is possible to arrange a tour on request.
Admission: 30 CZK / person, children under 15 free.
Where you can find us
Hartenberg castle is located near the village Josefov, Karlovy Vary, Czech republic. Look at the map: