- Address: Rozhled 79, 407 56 Jiřetín pod Jedlovou, Czech Republic
- Website: www.restaurace-tolstejn.cz
One of the most visited historical monuments of the Lusatian mountains are the ruins of the castle Tolstein. For today, there is not much left of a once powerful defensive structure. Now you can just wander among the ruins, overgrown with wild grass, enjoy a beautiful view of the valley and listen to the unusual music playing of guitarist Stepan Rak, who gives concerts here.
History of medieval ruins
The fortress, which received the then popular German name Tolstein, was erected in the late 13th century with a defensive purpose. The famous noble family of the Ranovics constantly improved the fortifications of their possessions, often under siege during the Lusatian and Hussite warriors. Repeatedly the castle was besieged, after which it passed into the possession of new owners.
Restoration of the estate
Despite the fact that to this day the ruins of the Tolstein fortress have been poorly preserved, the Czech government for some time invested money for reconstruction. The last time repairs in the amount of 35 thousand CZK were conducted in the distant 1934. The entrance gate, three towers and part of the walls were repaired. After the restoration, the local population stopped stretching the fortress brick by brick for its economic needs, as they did for a long time.
How to get to the fortress Tolstein?
You can reach the ruins by a regular bus or train from Liberec or Decin . Since the fortress is located on the top of a hill, it will take you to walk a 2 km path leading upwards. Before climbing a 670 m high hill, tourists are greeted by a beautiful pond with water lilies, giving it a romantic shade.