Litice Castle

Litice Castle rises on a rocky ridge above the Divoká Orlice river in the village of Litice nad Orlicí, roughly 7 km west of Žamberk in the Ústí nad Orlicí district of eastern Bohemia. The hill it stands on is protected as the "Hradní kopec Litice" nature monument, and the Gothic stronghold itself carries more than seven centuries of history, including a direct link to one of Bohemia's most famous kings.

When was the castle founded and by whom?

Litice was built around the turn of the 13th and 14th centuries, most likely on the initiative of the Drslavic family, who picked the steep hilltop above the river for its natural defensive advantages. Ownership changed hands repeatedly during the 14th century: the castle belonged in turn to John of Luxembourg and his son Charles IV, before passing in 1371 to the Kunštát family, whose tenure would shape the castle's most significant chapter.

What is the castle's connection to George of Poděbrady?

George of Poděbrady, later King of Bohemia (reigned 1458–1471), belonged to the Kunštát family and regarded Litice as an ancestral seat. Between 1450 and 1468 he ordered a major reconstruction: the defensive walls were reinforced, new gates were added, and the main tower was built. A stone relief above one of the gates still survives today, showing a helmet crowned with a jewel alongside the coats of arms of Bohemia, Moravia, Upper Lusatia and Poděbrady, together with an inscription dating the tower's completion to 1468. The surviving five-storey, rectangular tower already served as a lookout point in medieval times.

What happened to the castle after George of Poděbrady's death?

Once his descendants sold the estate, Vilém of Pernštejn acquired Litice in 1495. Because the administrative seat of the estate was moved elsewhere, the castle gradually lost its importance and began to decay. From 1562 it belonged to the lords of Bubno. The 19th century brought further deterioration, and it took restoration campaigns in 1890–1894 and again in the 1920s and 1930s to stabilise the walls and tower.

Who looks after the castle today, and what can visitors see?

Litice Castle is now owned by the Czech state and managed by the National Heritage Institute (Národní památkový ústav). Visitors can climb the castle tower for views over the Kralický Sněžník massif and the granite quarries on the Litický Chlum hill. The castle palace houses an exhibition of archaeological finds together with historic photographs and postcards documenting the site over the centuries. Three types of tours are on offer: "Hradem krále Jiřího" for adult visitors, the hands-on "Jak se staví hrad" route for schools and families with children, and a simplified version designed for kindergarten groups.

Frequently asked questions

How old is Litice Castle? It was built around the turn of the 13th and 14th centuries, making it more than 700 years old.

Was George of Poděbrady born at Litice? The castle was the ancestral seat of the Kunštát family, to which George of Poděbrady belonged, and it was here that he carried out the castle's largest reconstruction between 1450 and 1468.

Can visitors climb the tower? Yes, the surviving five-storey tower is open to visitors and serves as a lookout point.

How far is Litice from Žamberk? The castle lies about 7 km west of Žamberk.

Is the area around the castle a protected nature site? Yes, the castle hill is protected as the "Hradní kopec Litice" nature monument.