Tolštejn Castle, Castle ruin in Jiřetín pod Jedlovou, Czech Republic
Tolštejn Castle is a Gothic ruin built around two phonolite rock outcrops in the Lusatian Mountains, 2 km south of Jiřetín pod Jedlovou. A ring of walls and towers encloses the northern side of both rocks, and the upper castle stood on the larger outcrop, reached by steps cut into the rock.
The castle appears in written records for the first time in 1337, when it guarded trade routes between Bohemia and Lusatia. Swedish troops burned and demolished it in 1642, near the end of the Thirty Years' War, and it was never rebuilt.
Tolštejn draws hikers who treat the rocky climb as part of the experience, not just a path to the top. From the summit, visitors can look out over forested hills stretching toward the German and Polish borders.
Marked trails lead up to the ruin from Jiřetín pod Jedlovou and nearby villages, and the walk suits most fitness levels. The final stretch involves rocky terrain, so sturdy footwear makes the visit more comfortable.
The restaurant in the ruin was opened in 1865 by innkeeper Johann Josef Münzberg in a Swiss style; his family ran it until 1962, and after a closure in 1977 a new tavern opened in the rooms in 1996.
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