Úštěk, Litoměřice District First Half of 14th Century Cultural Monument
Helfenburk Castle, also called Hrádek, was built in the first half of the 14th century by the Lords of Klinštejn (Ronovci family). As early as 1375, it came into the possession of the Prague Archbishopric. The massive fortifications, dominated by a tower over 17 meters high, were built by Archbishop Jan of Jenštejn. The castle is built on the summit of a sandstone promontory at an altitude of 310 meters, with a height difference of 70 meters above the valley floor.
During the turbulent Hussite Wars, the castle became a refuge for the archbishop, later passing into noble hands. It remained inhabited almost throughout the entire 16th century. In 1622, it was burned and destroyed by imperial troops under the command of Marshal Buquoy. The main tower underwent romantic modifications in 1887-1890, when the castle ruins were purchased and renovated by industrialist Count Josef von Schroll.
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The castle was probably built by the Lords of Klinštejn, descending from the Ronovci family, in the first half of the 14th century. The founder was likely Jan of Klinštejn, who began to use Helfenburk in his name. In 1375, the castle was purchased by Prague Archbishop Jan Očko of Vlašim. The archbishop thus created a rural base in the forests for stays outside nearby Roudnice nad Labem, where he performed his duties.
Helfenburk became the center of an estate that also included the nearby Hřídelík castle and numerous villages, including the town of Hoštka. His successor, the third Prague Archbishop Jan of Jenštejn, also briefly resided here.
Under Archbishop Jan of Jenštejn, jewels, relics, and books from Prague's St. Vitus Cathedral were temporarily brought to Helfenburk. From 1395 comes a record by Roudnice Prior Peter Clarificator, the archbishop's personal chronicler, about Jan's accident on a bridge leading from the new tower, during which the archbishop nearly fell.
Jan of Jenštejn had the palace expanded and primarily built a new wall circuit, whose walls including battlements have been preserved. At the head of the castle, a residential tower was built in a dominant position. The entrance gates were protected by cradle drawbridges and a deep moat. Jan resided here probably until 1400, even during the time when he had already been deprived of his office.
In 1422, the castle was acquired by burgrave Aleš of Malíkovice. Archbishop Konrád of Vechta then spent years hidden from the king's disfavor (died here in 1431). In the summer of 1427, Půta III of Častolovic briefly seized the castle, followed by Jaroslav and Jindřich Berk of Dubá.
The last mentioned resident of the castle is Vilém of Ilburk, who at that time also owned nearby Ronov. He re-equipped Helfenburk and then used it instead of the difficult-to-access Ronov. After the extinction of his family in 1538, only servants lived at the castle and it gradually fell into disrepair.
In 1622, it burned down after being plundered by imperial troops under the command of Marshal Buquoy. After the Battle of White Mountain, the area was acquired by Jesuits from Liběšice and annexed to the Úštěk estate.
Not until 1887 did industrialist Count Josef von Schroll purchase and renovate the castle ruins, which then became attractive to tourists. Between 1887–1890, the count completed the demolished third floor of the thirty-meter-high tower, which is accessed by 143 steps, and made it his summer residence. The original medieval access to the tower could not be used, so the owner had a side entrance broken through.
During the 1960s, organizations of the Czech Union for Nature Conservation took over Helfenburk and began repairing and maintaining it again under the supervision of Litoměřice district conservator František Fišer. A group of volunteers cleared the castle of overgrown vegetation and conducted archaeological research of the well, which provided numerous valuable finds, including a winch shaft that is currently displayed next to the well.
Since 1978, the castle and guide services have been maintained by a group of volunteers who, since 1995, have been organized in the Hrádek Civic Association (since 2017, Hrádek Helfenburk Association). The castle is now owned by the town of Úštěk.
The original castle on the rock plateau was predominantly wooden. Only after expansion under Jan Očko of Vlašim was a stone palace, chapel, and number of smaller operational buildings built on the rock. A new 65 m deep well equipped with a treadwheel was dug.
Jan of Jenštejn had the palace expanded and primarily built a new wall circuit, whose walls including battlements have survived to this day. At the head of the castle, a residential tower was built in a dominant position. The entrance gates were protected by cradle drawbridges and a deep moat, which is now mostly filled in.
The complex of walls up to 12 meters high, dominated by a tower over 17 meters high, is freely accessible year-round. On the walls, the privy for guards is worth noting. At the well is a reconstructed water winch and the original shaft, which was pulled from the well during archaeological research.
Worth mentioning is an interesting legend claiming that at the beginning of the 17th century, a pair of monkeys supposedly settled at Helfenburk, having escaped from a nobleman who had brought this "souvenir" from distant lands.
However, the exotic animals began to reproduce rapidly at the castle, and soon there were reportedly up to hundreds of them. The monkeys caused great damage to the surrounding area; over time their boldness escalated to the point that during their nightly raiding expeditions they ventured into neighboring villages, whose inhabitants greatly feared them.
Several attempts were made by local residents to exterminate them, but these ended in failure. The bold animal gang eventually had to be pacified by imperial troops. Perhaps it was at this time that the distortion of the name Helfenburk to Affenburk, meaning Monkey Castle, arose - Bohuslav Balbín mentions this in his work Variety from the History of the Czech Kingdom.
The site is freely accessible to the public year-round. On weekends, when members of the Hrádek Helfenburk Association are present, the tower with 143 steps is also open. From the top platform of the three-story tower, there is a view of the surrounding forests. Refreshments cannot be provided at the castle; the only drinking water source is located at a spring 0.5 km away.
From Úštěk, a blue marked hiking trail leads to the ruins (approximately 6 km), passing through Lhota, past a ranger's lodge and further through Ptačí Valley (the path is also suitable for cycling and with a stroller).
Parking: The most used parking is located near the village of Ostré, from where you can reach the castle by two routes – via the red circuit to Ptačí Valley and then along the blue trail (approx. 2 km), or via the northern route along the red circuit (approx. 3 km). Less used parking is located on the edge of Rašovice village, from where a field path along the green hiking trail leads to the castle (1.5 km).
The nearest railway station is located approximately 5 km away in Úštěk on line 087 from Lovosice to Česká Lípa.
