Zuknstein Fortress (Czech Republic)

The current Late Gothic fortress was built in 1488-1491. Built by Vilem Pouzar from Michnice. Then the two side wings of the fortress were built, connected by walls with a projecting entrance tower, and ditches were dug and embankments poured. Gradually, Zuknstejn was expanded, various construction works lasted until 1568. In the next phase the south wing with a gate was built, probably the north wing, the northwest corner was built in the thirties of the 16th century, and the northwest tower was built. At the end of the 16th century the room on the first floor of the southern part of the western wing was rebuilt, installing a Renaissance cross vault. After 1620 only minimal reconstructions were carried out. The current trusses and wooden ceiling were installed at the turn of the 18th and 19th centuries. The Cuknstejn fortress is a four-wing, approximately rectangular building, dominated by one-story buildings of various ages (the oldest are the side wings - west and east). They surround a small square courtyard. On three sides, there is a veranda, made of field stones, from which You can access the upper floor. Two symmetrically arranged stairs lead to it, which are located on the northern facade of the courtyard. The entrance tower with gateway and Gothic portal is in the south wing of two store's. It was built outside the wall and is the only entrance to the fortress. In the northwest corner is a newer octagonal two-story tower, which was built only slightly later, than the other buildings. A ditch with an embankment was dug around the fortress, only a ditch on the side of the southern wing in 2002 during the reconstruction, a chapel with the remains of the original frescoes was discovered in the western wing.

A small and uncomplicated, but well-designed and fairly richly detailed model for modelers of all experience.