Ruins of castle in Tetín, Medieval castle ruins in Tetín, Czech Republic
The castle ruins consist of stone walls perched on a limestone ridge above the Berounka River valley, with a square tower and surviving sections of palace structures as main features. The remains are positioned tightly on the height, surrounded by three nearby churches that frame the site from different angles.
King Wenceslas II. established the castle in 1288 as a royal residence, which later passed to royal descendants who maintained it as their seat. The site was destroyed during the Hussite Wars in 1422, ending its use as a stronghold.
The site holds deep meaning for the region as the former stronghold of Saint Ludmila, a venerated figure whose memory shaped local religious practices for centuries. People still visit to connect with this spiritual heritage that remains woven into the landscape and the surrounding churches.
Access is by marked hiking trails starting from the town of Beroun to the northwest, which serves as a natural base for visiting. The approach involves climbing, and the exposed hilltop can be windy and sunny, so bring water and protection from the elements.
The location is connected to Saint Ludmila of Bohemia, who lived in an earlier fortress on this very spot and died there in 921, centuries before the later castle was built. This connection to an early venerated figure gave the place spiritual significance that overshadows even the importance of the medieval structures.
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