Vítkův Hrádek (Vítek´s Castle)
The highest castle in Bohemia (1,053 m above sea level) with the largest preserved residential tower offers stunning views of the Šumava Mountains, the Lipno Reservoir, the Novohradské Mountains, and in good weather, even the Austrian Alps. It’s no wonder that this romantic ruin became a source of inspiration for artists and writers such as A. Heyduk and A. Stifter.
Due to its location in a guarded border zone and the presence of a military observation post, visiting the castle was not permitted from the end of World War II until 1990. It reopened to the public in 2005, marking the 200th anniversary of Adalbert Stifter’s birth.
Vítkův Hrádek is situated on the right bank of the Lipno Lake above the hamlet of Sv. Tomáš, 6 km from Přední Výtoň and 7 km from Frymburk. It was founded in the mid-13th century by Vítek of Krumlov as an administrative center for the colonized area and as a guard castle on the trade route from Austria to Bohemia.
From 1948 to 1989, the castle was used by the army, gradually deteriorated, and was eventually handed over in a dilapidated state to the municipality of Přední Výtoň. In 2004, major reconstruction began, and soon after, the site welcomed its first visitors.
How to get there
To reach it, first take the ferry from Frymburk to Frýdava, then continue uphill via an asphalt road or through the forest for about 6 km to the summit of Vítkův kámen.
Do you know that...
… in good weather, one can see the Austrian Alps including the massifs of the Großer Priel, Dachstein, and Watzmann, as well as grand views over the Vltava valley and the Czech interior?
