Úštěk: Hotels and accommodations

Úštěk brings together a historic town center, a castle, the 67-hectare Chmelař recreational lake, and several museums and event venues. As a result, historic buildings, water, and specific cultural offerings exist side by side.

History and townscape

The historic town center of Úštěk was declared an urban monument reserve in 1980. Úštěk Castle was built at the beginning of the 15th century within the already existing town and preserves Gothic and Renaissance architectural details, including cellars carved into the sandstone bedrock. The Pikartská Tower is the only surviving one of the five prismatic watchtowers of Úštěk’s fortifications.

The Muzeum čertů is located in the Pikartská Tower and the adjacent Gothic cellar. The museum includes a moving devil world called “Peklém”. A café with seating has also been set up in the courtyard of Úštěk Castle.

The Church of Saints Peter and Paul was built between 1764 and 1772 in the late Baroque style; concerts and religious services are held there. The Úštěk Synagogue is a Classicist building from the late 18th century and formed the core of the town’s former Jewish quarter. Today, it houses a permanent exhibition and hosts exhibitions and concerts.

The multi-story side of the Ptačí domky, visible from Kamenná Street, is also part of the historic townscape’s points of interest.

Water and landscape

Chmelař is a 67-hectare recreational lake with two beaches. The recreational area at Chmelař has been equipped with a sandy beach, playing fields, sports facilities, accommodations, sanitary facilities, and a restaurant. The area around Chmelař lies within the České středohoří Protected Landscape Area.

The annual “Piráti dobývají jezero Chmelař” event takes place at Chmelař in July.

Museums, crafts, and events

Vodní svět Úštěk presents a year-round exhibition about freshwater fish. Vodní svět Úštěk also includes a small museum dedicated to Jan Wassermann. Galerie Úštěk displays collections of paintings and graphics and holds regular exhibitions.

Tkalcovna Anima offers guided tours of the weaving workshop, during which visitors can try traditional crafts; simple workshops are available on request. Tkalcovna Anima arranges individual weaving sessions for individuals and small groups.

The Úštěcký historický jarmark is a recurring event featuring a historical procession, a contemporary market, exhibitions, guided tours, children’s workshops, and a program on several stages.

Excursions

The sandstone formation Opičí hlava is located near Úštěk in Havraní důl, about 2 kilometers east of Úštěk, in the Úštěcké Švýcarsko area. In the vicinity of Úštěk, a yellow-marked hiking trail leads from the turnoff near Lukovsko or from Ostré to the Opičí hlava rock formation; a tourist shelter offers a viewpoint of the formation.

In the vicinity of Úštěk, the preserved 30-meter-high tower of Helfenburk Castle Ruins serves as a lookout tower on weekends and daily during the summer months.

Other destination pages

Other destination pages: Lukavec U Lovosic, Vědomice, Úpohlavy, Žalhostice, Čížkovice, Drahobuz, Vědlice, Libochovany.

To the overarching travel overview: Litoměřice District.