Neuberg: Castle History and Trails in the Ašský výběžek

Neuberg Between Castle History and Valley Landscape

Neuberg combines a distinctive castle heritage with a landscape where history and trails meet throughout the Ašský výběžek. The character of the area is particularly vivid at Podhradí: the village lies in the valley of the Ašský potok, in the direction of the border with neighboring Germany, at an elevation of 562 m. This gives the surroundings a clear landscape framework before the historical details take center stage. The valley location, stream, and elevation together shape the village’s landscape character.

The ruins of Neuberg Castle lie 3.5 km north-northeast of Aš, on a rock above the left bank of the Ašský potok. The castle was built around the beginning of the 13th century. Its location on the rock and on the left bank connects the landscape with the period in which the castle was built.

Traces of the Upper Castle

Only the front section of the wall and the windows remain from the Upper Castle. These surviving elements make the site a destination for anyone who prefers discovering historic architecture through visible details rather than through a fully preserved complex. The original feeding troughs have also survived in the former stable of the Upper Castle. They draw attention to the building’s use and complement the more striking wall remains with a small, tangible detail. The surviving structural elements and the feeding troughs thus connect the Upper Castle’s exterior form with a detail of its former use.

Podhradí and Its Cultural Monuments

The castle’s eventful history in Podhradí is also one of the defining themes. After a major fire in 1610, it no longer served as the main center of the Zedwitz lordship in the Asch region. The fire therefore marks the loss of its former central function within this lordship.

Another cultural highlight is the Church of the Good Shepherd, a protected cultural monument. Inside, the altar created by M. Zeitler dates from 1710. For your planning, this offers another perspective on the region: alongside the castle ruins, wall section, and rock, there is sacred art represented by a precisely dated work. The altar also shifts attention from the protected architecture to the interior furnishings. In this way, sacred art adds another cultural perspective to the history of the castle and the lordship. Depending on your interests, you can therefore focus on medieval history, architectural traces, or cultural monument preservation.

A Route Through the Landscape

Green Route 1.0 runs from Podhradí via mineral springs to Hazlov. It complements the fixed historical points of reference with a connection through the landscape. The route provides a landscape counterpoint to the individual architectural and cultural monuments. Podhradí remains the starting point, while the mineral springs and Hazlov extend the connection geographically. Anyone who wants to include not only the history of castles and churches but also the surrounding area in their exploration will find a dedicated focus here for movement and landscape.

More Destinations for Your Search

If you would like to compare other places in addition to Neuberg, you can find them here: Trebendorf, Miltigau, Schönbach Bei Asch, Scheibenreuth, Neukirchen, Sangerberg, Poutnov, Wilkowitz.

For the higher-level travel overview: Eger District.