Vítkův Hrádek

The highest located castle in Bohemia (1053 m above sea level) with the largest preserved residential tower offers stunning views of the Bohemian Forest, Lipno, the Novohradské Mountains, and in good weather, even the Alps in Austria. It’s no wonder the castle became a romantic source of inspiration for various painters and writers, such as A. Heyduk and A. Stifter.

Due to the guarded border zone and the establishment of a military observation post, the castle was not accessible to the public after World War II until 1990. It was reopened to the public in 2005 on the occasion of the 200th anniversary of A. Stifter's birth.

Vítkův Hrádek is located on the right side of the Lipno Reservoir above the settlement of Sv. Tomáš, 6 km from the village of Přední Výtoň and 7 km from the town of Frymburk. It was founded in the mid-13th century by Vítek of Krumlov as an administrative center of the colonized area and as a guard castle on the trade route from Austria to Bohemia.

From 1948 to 1989, Vítkův Hrádek was used by the military, fell into disrepair, and was handed over in a derelict state to the village of Přední Výtoň. In 2004, extensive reconstruction began, and shortly thereafter, the castle welcomed its first visitors.

Currently, the site is operated by the municipality of Přední Výtoň.