Vítkův Hrádek Castle and View of Lipno Lake

Rewarding summit for bikers. Be sure to go to the observation deck, because only there you can see the outstanding panorama

Wonderful panorama with a view of the Vltava reservoir. You will be welcomed in knightly clothing at the castle

The castle was probably founded by Witiko I of Český Krumlov. After the Krumau line of the Witigonen died out, Wittinghausen passed to the Rosenberg branch of the family in 1302. During the disputes of the Czech nobility with King Wenceslas in 1394, he was imprisoned in the castle for a short time. Around this time, the Wittinghausen dominion consisted of 15 villages and a glassworks.
In 1427 Ulrich II von Rosenberg pledged Wittinghausen Castle with the German court to his brother-in-law Reinprecht von Walsee, whose son of the same name gave the lordship together with the market town of Haslach to Johann II von Rosenberg in 1464. King Vladislav II confirmed this donation in 1483 for Johann's sons as well, after which the Wittinghausen dominion was incorporated into the dominion of Krumlov. Because of financial difficulties, the last Rosenberg, Peter Wok von Rosenberg, had to sell the castle and dominion of Wittinghausen together with the dominion of Krumau to Emperor Rudolf II in 1602.
During the Thirty Years' War, the castle was taken by the imperial army in 1621 and a year later it was taken over by the Eggenberg family, who continued to expand the fortifications. In 1719 the Eggenberg possessions passed to the princes of Schwarzenberg. They initiated conservation work on the remaining parts of the castle and the tower. In the middle of the 18th century the castle was no longer inhabited.
In 1815, a stairway to the lookout tower on the summit was built in the south-eastern part of the castle, and later repairs were made to secure the tower.
During the period of communist rule (1945-1989), the castle ruins, which are located in the restricted area of the border due to their proximity to Austria, were not accessible.
Adalbert Stifter's story Der Hochwald is set around the castle and the surrounding area. His historical novel Witiko begins with Wittinghausen Castle, which he has built in the novel as "Burg Witikohaus".