Proměny Žižkova vrchu aneb Od Vítkovce k Vítkovci

Southeast of Holany (Česká Lípa district), a forested hill rises towards the east with the highest point called Žižka’s Hill (325 m). Today, practically the entire area of the hill is occupied by a deer-park, on the north-western side the hill is lined with sandstone rocks, on which the castle stands, and to the south-east of it there lie the remains of a deserted settlement consisting of several houses. Recent research has confirmed that the castle was originally called Vítkovec, but from the end of the 16th century until the beginning of the 20th century bore the name Schischkenberg, originally Žižkenberg, in Czech “Žižkova hora”. It was only after the First World War when the castle and also the surrounding deer-park were mistakenly given the Czech name Vřísek, which was retained until recently. The history of these name changes and the connection of the topographical designation with the name of the Hussite chieftain Jan Žižka of Trocnov is the content of this article.