Silver medal Legends of the Czech Châteaux - Červená Lhota proof

The Czech Mint’s new series, titled Legends of Czech Castles, is full of myths, mysteries, and fairy tales. The first silver medal commemorates the legend of Červená Lhota.

There once lived a nobleman, Guntram Kába, who fell in love with the charming noblewoman Johanka of Dírná. She returned his feelings, but a time full of religious strife did not favor their relationship—for they were of different faiths. Nevertheless, they had their way. Guntram was convinced that after the wedding he would lead Johana to the true Catholic faith, while the bride, on the other hand, hoped to turn her future husband into a devout Protestant. But then an estates uprising broke out in Bohemia, and the animosity between the faiths turned into hatred. While Guntram joined the imperial army and left for battle, Johana remained at the castle, where she waited and hoped. She did not wish for her husband to return safely—she wanted the Catholics to lose the war. Eventually, she decided to take matters into her own hands. To set the castle to her own liking, she poisoned her father-in-law, and when Guntram returned home after the Battle of White Mountain, he too died under strange circumstances. Soon, Johana began to get rid of everything that reminded her of the Kába dynasty. Most of all, she resented the memorable family crucifix. She opened the window and was about to throw it into the pond, but at that moment a storm broke out, and the devil himself came for the unworthy noblewoman. Johana fought back, but it was no use—her head struck the wall, which turned red with her blood, and the devil carried her off to hell. When morning came, the servants were met with a terrifying sight of the bloodstained facade. No matter what they did, they could not remove the red stains. The new lord of the castle therefore decided that the entire castle should be painted red. Since then, it has been called Červená Lhota…

The reverse side of the commemorative medal, designed by academic sculptor Majka Wichnerová, depicts a noblewoman being pulled out of a castle window by the devil. On the reverse side, you will find a view of the castle and the bridge connecting it to the outside world. The composition is completed by the inscriptions ČERVENÁ LHOTA CASTLE and THE LEGEND OF ČERVENÁ LHOTA.

This issue, which loosely follows the Legends of Czech Castles series, is being released in a limited edition of just 300 pieces.