castillo de Cheb

Originally built around 1180 for the Holy Roman Emperor Frederick I Barbarossa, this site is the only example of a Hohenstaufen Kaiserpfalz (imperial palace) in the Czech Republic. The structure was founded as a 12th-century Romanesque castle in the Palatine style and later served as a fortress. It is designated as a National Cultural Monument.

The site is notable for its well-preserved Romanesque architecture, including the Black Tower, which is the oldest structure in the city. A rare two-story Romanesque-Gothic chapel dedicated to St. Erhard and St. Ursula (also referred to as the Chapel of Saint Martin) remains remarkably intact. The grounds also contain the remains of the imperial palace, situated on a rocky spur overlooking the Eger river.

Historical significance extends to its role in major events, specifically as the location of the premeditated murders of the associates and aide-de-camps of Albrecht von Wallenstein. The castle complex, consisting of preserved buildings, ruins, and fortifications, is open to the public.