Kozí hrádek is located about 6 km southeast of Tábor. The first written mention of it dates to 1377, referring to a Vlček of Kozí and an Albrecht, Burgrave at Kozí. Another historic reference says that Jan of Hardeck Junior, Burgrave of Magdeburg, sold the castle along with several villages in 1391. Afterwards, the castle was owned by the Kozský of Kozí family, whose coat of arms featured a crowned quadruped (probably a lynx) that changed to a goat (“koza”) over time. After his departure from Prague, Master John Hus found refuge here in 1413-1414, and wrote some of his most prominent works at the location. Kozí was reported abandoned in 1542. Although the time of its destruction is not known exactly, it is probable that it ceased to exist in 1438, during the campaign of Albrecht II Habsburg on Tábor. The remnants of the old castle ruin were unearthed in 1899 - 1929 by Josef Švehla, a local amateur archaeologist. Today, Kozí hrádek is a National Cultural Monument due to its historical significance.
Doc. PhDr. Rudolf Krajíc, CSc.
Kozí hrádek is a sought-after tourist destination for visitors domestic and foreign. It can be visited on foot, by bicycle or by car. Along with the nearby forest restaurant, the Kozí hrádek compound offers sufficient facilities for a comfortable hiking stop and rest, as well as many cultural and social events.