Valdštejn castle was built in the second half of the 13th century, by the Markvart family, which by then owned much of the territory within the Jizera river basin. Zdeněk (son of Jaroslav, the founder of nearby Turnov), became first lord of Valdštejn, and founded this illustrious dynasty which continued to have a major influence on the affairs of the Bohemian state over the following centuries.

The castle remained in the ownership of the Zdeněk of Valdštejn family until the late 14th century before passing to the Vartenberk family (yet another branch of the Markvart family). It was captured by the Hussite army in the early 15th century, and from then on had multiple owners, including robber-barons and Kateřina, the mistress of King Jiři of Poděbrad’s son, Hynek.

Kateřina was the last resident of Valdštejn. The castle fell into disrepair and was abandoned in the late 15th century. Nearly two centuries later, the property was acquired by the Bohemian and Imperial generalissimo, Albrecht of Valdštejn. Albrecht had thus recaptured his ancient family seat, part of an accumulation of territory that saw this famous European figure assemble a vast tract of land in northern Bohemia, much of which had earlier belonged to his ancestors from the Markvart family.

The descendants of Albrecht reconstructed and refurbished the castle over the following two centuries, a process continued in the early 19th century by the new owners, the Lexa of Aehrenthal family. Valdštejn thus became one of the first tourist attractions in the Český ráj in the 19th century, a position it maintains today.

For more information, including visiting hours for this unusual and interesting castle see:http://www.hrad-valdstejn.cz/en/