Litoměřice Castle

Litoměřický castle, also known as Hrádek, presents an interesting example of the urban fortification of the late Middle Ages. Its location in the northwest part of the city's core differs from the usual models of castles of its time - the castle was originally outside the city walls, not inside them. Between градем and the city its economic court spread out, which was a unique and unusual contendiация for the time being. Since 1964, the castle has been protected as a cultural monument.

The first settlement in Litoměřice dates back to the early Middle Ages, when the first Přemyslívov was located here a fort on the Dóm hill. The old castle, which took the place of today's bishop with the Cathedral of St. Stephen, ended its development in the 13th century. The new castle was founded only during the reign of John of Luxembourg in the first half of the 14th century. It is first documented in writing from 7 May 1359, when Emperor Karel IV. published a Litomeric Charter allowing the planting of vineyards on the Radodýl, on condition that the tithe of wine will be taken to the castle. At the time of Charles IV, the city expanded and its walls were rebuilt; That's when the castle became part of the city fortification. For the reign of Václav IV, the holder of the castle Kunát Kaplíř of Sulejovice built a massive palace which was inserted in front of the wall line.

Architecturally, the castle followed the tradition of the Přemyslovský city castles and combined elements of the French and Central European castels. The castles of Kotnov, Vlaší or the Animal with their characteristic pair of cylindrical towers served as examples of similar buildings. According to the historical reconstruction, the castle complex had an irregular trapezoid with dimensions of approximately 60 to 75 metres. In the northwest and northeast corners there were cylindrical towers approximately nine metres in diameter with a wall about three metres thick. On the southwest corner, a covered prism tower was preserved. The towers connected the walls and the castle was circling the moat.

During the Hussite wars, the castle served as a military base. At the time of the Hussite, it fell to ruin, until in 1499 Vladislav Jagellonský donated it to the city, which used it as a granary, wine storage and for the housing of officials. In 1655 the castle burned down and more than a century later, in 1767, the Litomeric Brewery was transferred to it. This reconstruction had a long-term consequence - the castle remained out of the interest of historians for decades and was not a valuable historical monument. Only a construction historical survey of Jan Muk from 1971 brought new knowledge of its existence and form. Since the 1980s, the remains of the castle have been gradually reconstructed for cultural and social purposes. The palace was preserved with the remains of the north side, the west wall of the wall and the remains of three towers.