Zítkov

Zítkov is a forgotten castle ruin hidden in woodland above the left bank of the Tichá Orlice river, less than 1.5 km west of the town of Choceň in eastern Bohemia. Almost nothing of the once-imposing stronghold survives above ground today, yet its short and violent history is tied directly to one of medieval Bohemia's most famous rulers.

Where are the ruins and how do you get there?

The remains sit in a forest high above the valley, close to the railway line connecting Choceň with Týniště nad Orlicí. The easiest approach is on foot from the centre of Choceň, along a red-marked hiking trail heading toward Plchůvky and Borohrádek; the walk up takes roughly half an hour. Trees now cover most of the site, so the old walls are hard to spot at a glance, but the land itself — a sharp rise above the river — still betrays the spot's defensive purpose.

Why was a castle built above Choceň?

The story begins in the first third of the 14th century, when the Choceň estate was held by Mikuláš of Potštejn, remembered as a robber knight. In 1338, Margrave Charles — the future Emperor Charles IV — campaigned against him, later writing that he tore down Choceň along with a number of the lord of Potštejn's strongholds. Three years later, in 1341, the Choceň estate was split between the lords of Lichtenburk and of Žampach. The Lichtenburks are thought to have built a new seat on their share in the second half of the century, first recorded in 1388 as "Nový hrad" (New Castle) — quite possibly on the very foundations of the older, destroyed stronghold now known as Zítkov.

What did the castle look like, and where does its name come from?

Zítkov represented a relatively late type of mid-14th-century castle, built around two palace buildings facing one another. Its current name is a modern one, taken from later landowners who held the fields below the hill — the castle's original, medieval name was never recorded.

Why did it disappear so quickly?

Zítkov's active life was remarkably short. It most likely ceased to exist by the very end of the 14th century, or at the latest in the opening years of the 15th, once a new fortified manor (tvrz) built directly in Choceň took over its defensive and administrative role.

What have archaeologists found on the site?

Between 2007 and 2011, the site was surveyed with metal detectors, documenting a substantial number of objects that shed light on everyday life there. Most finds date from the late 14th and early 15th centuries — the period when the stronghold is believed to have come under siege. Researchers also found scattered traces of earlier, 13th-century activity on the hill, suggesting the site mattered even before the castle was built. The results were published in the journal Archaeologia historica, issued by Masaryk University.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly are the ruins of Zítkov castle located? In a forest above the left bank of the Tichá Orlice river, about 1.5 km west of Choceň, near the railway line to Týniště nad Orlicí.

How do you reach the ruins on foot? A red-marked trail leads from the centre of Choceň toward Plchůvky and Borohrádek; the walk to the site takes about half an hour.

Who destroyed the earlier castle at Choceň? Margrave Charles, later Emperor Charles IV, did so in 1338 while campaigning against Mikuláš of Potštejn.

Why is it called Zítkov if that name is modern? The name comes from later owners of the land at the foot of the old castle hill — the original medieval name of the stronghold was not preserved.

When and why did the castle stop being used? It most likely disappeared around the turn of the 14th and 15th centuries, once a newly built fortified manor in Choceň itself took over its role.