Bělá Castle

thumb|upright=1.5|Ruined Bělá Castle above Dolní Bělá
Bělá Castle () is a castle located in the Plzeň Region of the Czech Republic. The first mention of the castle comes from somewhere between 1315 and 1318.Dolní Bělá hrad at Hrady.cz It is located in the village of Dolní Bělá near Plzeň.
==History==
The castle of Bělá was built between 1313 and 1315 by Racek, a member of the influential Czech house of Hroznata. The village itself was first mentioned in a written document in 1318. The Hroznatas held Bělá until 1415, when they sold it to Neustup and Bavor of Švamberk. The castle was sold or even confiscated several times during 1400s and 1500s. The most notable owners during that time were probably the Gutstejns - Volf of Gutstejn was a robber and the castle was confiscated from him in 1509.
The original heavily fortified castle was rebuilt to a chateau sometimes towards the end of the 1500s, while owned by the family of Markvarts of Hradek. At that time, the castle had a prominent guest—Kryštof Harant stayed there before he started his journey to the Holy Land.
In 1757, the castle was purchased by the Cistercian monastery of Plasy.Dolní Bělá - Plzeňsko - sever - Vyletnik.cz After Emperor Joseph II abolished religious orders, the property was managed by the Religious Fund. Around 1785, the local people were allowed to take the castle apart and use the stones to build their own houses.
==References==
==External links==
* Castle's History 
Category:Castles in the Czech Republic
Category:Plzeň-North District
Category:Christian monasteries in the Czech Republic