Castle Litice by Plzeň

Litice Castle is a ruined stronghold in the Litice district of Plzeň, standing on a rocky promontory above the point where the Litický stream meets the Radbuza river. The ruins are protected as a cultural monument of the Czech Republic and rank among the oldest traces of settlement in the area.

Where is Litice Castle located?

The castle sits within the present-day administrative district of Plzeň 6 – Litice, on a narrow spur overlooking the Radbuza valley at the confluence with the Litický stream. The steep slopes of the promontory made the site naturally defensible long before any stone fortification was built there.

How did Litice Castle come to be?

The outer bailey area of the later Gothic castle was inhabited as far back as prehistoric times. During the Eneolithic period a hilltop settlement of the Schussenried and Chamer cultures stood here, and in the late Bronze Age a hillfort was established that continued to exist into the late Hallstatt period. The stone castle itself was built at the turn of the 12th and 13th centuries, founded by Drslav, prefect (purkrabí) of Plzeň. Toward the end of the 13th century, the lords of Litice relocated to eastern Bohemia, where they built a new castle above the Orlice river and gave it the same family name, Litice — which is why the Czech Republic has two separate places and castle ruins sharing this name, unrelated to one another administratively.

The castle consisted of two forebailey courts and a rectangular defensive core. The front rampart of the core was further reinforced, and behind it stood a free-standing bergfried in the courtyard, with a two-tract palace occupying the most protected spot. Access to the castle grounds was from the east, through a tower-like gate.

What happened to the castle in the 14th century?

In 1318, John of Luxembourg, King of Bohemia, captured the castle with his army, after which the stronghold gradually fell into decline. In 1367 the village together with the castle was purchased by the Chotěšov monastery, in whose possession it remained for centuries, gradually losing its military role in favor of an economic one.

What remains of Litice Castle today?

Deep moats, the front defensive rampart, and clearly readable outlines of the former buildings — the ground-plan traces of the palace, the core, and outbuildings — have survived to this day. Fragments of the perimeter walls are also visible, along with pronounced terrain shaping that reveals the former layout of the fortification. The castle exists today as a permanent ruin: it has never been rebuilt or reconstructed, which lets visitors see the original layout of a defensive site several centuries old.

Frequently asked questions

Can Litice Castle be visited?

The ruins are accessible as a permanent archaeological and historical site located within the city of Plzeň, in the Litice district.

Who founded Litice Castle?

The castle was founded by Drslav, prefect of Plzeň, at the turn of the 12th and 13th centuries. The same promontory had earlier held a prehistoric settlement and a Bronze Age hillfort.

Why are there two castles called Litice?

The lords of Litice, owners of the Plzeň castle, moved to eastern Bohemia at the end of the 13th century and built another stronghold there above the Orlice river, giving it the same family name, Litice.

What happened to the castle after John of Luxembourg captured it?

After its capture in 1318, the castle gradually declined and fell into disrepair. In 1367 it was purchased, together with the surrounding village, by the Chotěšov monastery.

Which parts of the castle have survived best?

The moats and the front defensive rampart are the most clearly preserved features, while the terrain still reveals the outlines of the former castle core, palace, and entrance gate.