Ronov Castle, Castle ruin in Blíževedly, Czech Republic

Ronov Castle is a Gothic castle ruin set on a steep hilltop in Blíževedly, in the Ralsko Uplands of the Czech Republic. The remaining stone walls and foundations show where a multi-part fortification once stood, with several buildings arranged across the elevated terrain.

The site started as a residential tower and was later expanded into a larger fortress under Vilém of Ilburk. Swedish forces took and destroyed it in 1643 during the Thirty Years War, leaving it in the ruined state seen today.

The castle's name comes from the Ronovci family, and a tree trunk on the Berka of Dubá coat of arms echoes the old German word rone for tree trunk. A cross stood on the ruin from 1655, and in 1845 Bishop Augustin Bartoloměj Hille of Litoměřice had a Stations of the Cross laid out here, renewed in 1891 and since vanished.

The ruins are reached by forest paths that climb steadily uphill, so sturdy footwear is a good idea before setting off. The ground is uneven in places and covered with roots and undergrowth, which makes the walk slow but manageable.

The 1845 Stations of the Cross were built on the summit by Augustin Bartoloměj Hille, Bishop of Litoměřice, who owned the Stvolínky estate. Building them largely demolished the castle palace, and a cross was raised in its place. The stations were repaired in 1891 and later vanished entirely.