Litýš Castle, Castle ruin on Litýš hill in Nová Vesnička, Czech Republic
Litýš Castle is a ruin on the 491 m summit of the same name in the České středohoří, in the Nová Vesnička settlement of Liběšice, Litoměřice District. Only ramparts, ditches and small fragments of masonry survive; the most visible remnant is the wall around the lower courtyard, while the upper level, a trachyte rock, holds only a tower base cut into the stone.
Zikmund Děčínský z Vartenberka had Litýš built around 1422 after acquiring the former Býčkovice commandery estate, likely to counter Jan Žižka's nearby Kalich castle. The first written mention dates from 1432, naming burgrave Mikuláš ze Lhoty. The castle passed through the Šternberk and Vartenberk families until Václav exchanged it in 1532; unmaintained, it burned down and was recorded as deserted in 1544.
The Ministry of Culture recognizes Litýš Castle as an official cultural monument, preserving its remains for historical research and education.
The ruins are accessible via marked hiking trails that connect to regional walking routes through the forested landscape. Visitors should wear appropriate footwear and expect uneven terrain since the ruins sit on a hillside.
The hilltop is wooded and offers almost no views, and the summit is reached by a branch off the red-marked hiking trail from Třebušín to Úštěk. The site is protected as a cultural monument.
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