On the western edge of the town of Podbořany, in the village of Hlubany, stands a small medieval fortress that survived the Hussite Wars, several changes of ownership, and years of neglect as a farm building. Today, restored, it houses an unusual exhibition dedicated to kaolin mining in the Podbořansko region.

The site has an intimate, rural character - this isn't a mountain peak but a historic building set within the gentle hills of Western Bohemia, at an elevation of 320 metres. Fields and quiet village houses surround it, while remnants of the old moat hint at its fortified past. In summer the surroundings are lush and green, in autumn the nearby hills take on warm rust tones - making it a pleasant spot for an unhurried walk combined with a touch of local history.

How to get there

• Podbořany (town centre) - short walk or drive, easy route, suitable for most visitors
• Local footpaths leading through the village of Hlubany on the southwestern edge of town

Practical information

• Protected as a cultural monument since 1964
• The fortress houses the Kaolin na Podbořansku exhibition (since 2018, run by Podbořany Museum)
• The fortress site measures 40 × 30 metres, partly surrounded by a water moat
• The building is managed by the RestArt association and is occasionally opened to visitors

The first known owners, the yeomen Fremut and Bušek of Hlubany, are mentioned as early as 1321, and the fortress itself endured a Hussite siege and centuries of changing fortunes before becoming a home for the story of local kaolin mining.