Úštěk brings together striking traces of its history as a town with places to visit that focus on culture and water. The castle, historic religious buildings and museums offer different insights into the town; Chmelař provides a distinct focus on recreation. This lets you shape your stay around your interests rather than trying to squeeze every discovery into a single itinerary.
Castle, fortifications and historic town centre
Úštěk Castle was built at the beginning of the 15th century within the town that already existed. Gothic and Renaissance architectural details have been preserved, including cellars carved into the sandstone bedrock. The historic town centre was declared an Urban Conservation Area in 1980. These two stops tell different parts of the town’s history: the castle represents its development within the town, while the conservation area reflects the special significance of the historic centre.
The fortifications included five prismatic watchtowers; Pikartská Tower is the only one that has survived. The Muzeum čertů (Devils’ Museum) is located in the tower and the adjoining Gothic cellar. It includes the moving world of devils, “Peklém” — an unusual museum theme in historic rooms. A café with seating has also been set up in the castle courtyard. If you would like to plan a break there, check in advance whether it will be open during your visit.
Another landmark in the town centre is Ptačí domky: its multi-storey side can be seen from Kamenná Street. The Church of St Peter and Paul provides a different architectural accent. It was built between 1764 and 1772 in the Late Baroque style; concerts and church services are held there. The programme may vary.
Exhibitions, music and traditional crafts
The Úštěk Synagogue is a Neoclassical building from the late 18th century and formed the heart of the town’s former Jewish quarter. It houses a permanent exhibition and also hosts exhibitions and concerts. The Gallery Úštěk focuses on paintings and prints, with regular exhibitions complementing its collections. If you want to visit a specific exhibition or event, plan using the latest information.
At Tkalcovna Anima, you can get hands-on with traditional crafts: during guided tours of the weaving workshop, you can try out craft techniques. Simple workshops are available on request. Individual weaving sessions can be arranged for individuals and small groups; these require prior agreement. These activities differ from an independent museum visit and are better suited to a planned stop on your itinerary.
Vodní svět Úštěk also combines an exhibition with its own small museum. It presents a year-round exhibition on freshwater fish; the site also includes a museum dedicated to Jan Wassermann. The year-round exhibition can offer a different point of interest for your plans than events with a changing programme.
Chmelař and excursions in the surrounding area
Chmelař is a 67-hectare recreational lake with two beaches. The area around the lake lies within the České středohoří Protected Landscape Area. A sandy beach, playing fields, sports facilities, accommodation, sanitary facilities and a restaurant have been provided in the recreation area. As individual amenities may change, check their current availability if you would like to include them in your plans.
The annual event “Piráti dobývají jezero Chmelař” (Pirates Conquer Lake Chmelař) takes place at Chmelař in July. The Úštěcký historický jarmark (Úštěk Historical Fair) is also a recurring event. At its 28th edition in 2026, a historical parade and contemporary market will be accompanied by exhibitions, guided tours, children’s workshops and programmes on several stages. Programmes and dates vary by year; check the dates before your trip.
Near Úštěk, the sandstone formation Opičí hlava is located in Havraní důl, about two kilometres east of Úštěk and in the Úštěcké Švýcarsko area. A yellow-marked hiking trail leads to the rock formation from a junction near Lukovsko or from Ostré; a hikers’ shelter offers a viewpoint overlooking it. As route details may change, it is worth checking the current route. Also nearby, the surviving 30-metre-high tower of Helfenburk Castle ruins serves as a lookout tower: open on weekends and daily during the summer months. This pairs a clearly seasonal viewpoint with cultural visits in town, without requiring both stops to offer the same kind of experience.
Discover more destinations: Siřejovice, Jenčice, Vražkov, Lipá, Lovečkovice, Snědovice, Kamýk, Kresin.
For the main travel overview: Okres Litoměřice.
