Kokořín Castle is a castle located some 10 km (6 mi) northeast of Mělník, Czech Republic, in the middle of a nature reserve on a steep rocky outcrop above the Kokořín Valley. Originally, a medieval fortress carved in local sandstone was built there in the days of King Jan Lucemburský. The first recorded mention of Kokořín dates from 1320. In the same year Sir Jindřich of Osměchov received Kokořín manor from the nobleman Hynek Berka of Dubá who - a bit 'of time in the mid-14th century - had the original castle built.Until the 15th century, the building constantly changed owners. During the Hussite wars, its owners were representatives of this reform movement. Later, Emperor Ferdinand II included the castle in the list of "cursed fortresses" and even ordered it destroyed. But for unknown reasons, Kokorzhin survived and again began to change hands. At the beginning of the XVII century it was transferred into the ownership of the Waldstein family. During the Thirty Years War, the castle was destroyed by the Swedes. Ferdinand III, who ruled the country at that time, forbade the restoration of the building, as he was afraid of rebellion. For almost 200 years, Kokorzhin stood abandoned and turned into ruins. The robbers took advantage of this and built a "den" in the ruins. When it was purchased at the end of the 19th century by Václav Špaček, the Prague businessman, it had already been only a deserted ruin for a long time. He reconstructed the castle very expensively under the supervision of four leading historians of the time and opened it to the public. He built a recreational facility, a swimming pool and tennis courts below it, thus promoting the Kokořín area to a favoured recreational and tourist destination.
