castle ruin
Slight remnants of the castle, the predecessor of Čabraď Castle, about 20 km southeast of Krupina, between the hills of the Krupina Forest at the northern end of the long-stretching Pustý vrch hill.
Cerovo, Banská Bystrica region
GPS: 48.231,
19.133
368 m a.s.l.
From the road No. 75, which leads from the village Plášťovce to Veľký Krtíš, we turn left to the village Cerovo. After a short while, just behind the road barriers, we turn left onto a narrow forest path, cross an open ramp and continue with a careful drive, still straight. The road deviates to the right to a smaller settlement, but we recommend leaving the car on the grass next to the road right at this turn and not continuing to the settlement due to the condition of the mentioned road. From there we walk in the direction of the settlement, from there we continue straight on until we enter the forest and along an unmarked route on a relatively relaxed path, more or less descending, we come to the rest of the castle on the ridge. The route is sometimes complicated by fallen trees, which are sometimes difficult to get around, but otherwise the whole route is hassle-free.
Nearby castles (as the crow flies):
Čabraď - 2.5 km, Zelený hrad - 7.5 km, Bzovík - 9.9 km, Vartovka Krupina - 13.8 km, Modrý Kameň - 14.9 km, Patkôš - 16.7 km
2021
Historical and other names: Lythwa, Litva, Lythua, Lytua, Haradnok
The castle was probably built after the Tartar invasion after 1241 by Hunt of the Hunt-Pázmány family, or his son Derš Nagy (Great). The first mention of the castle is from 1276, when it was still called Haradnok, and it probably replaced the early medieval fortified site. The castle was immediately occupied by the grandchildren of Lambert Hunt-Pázmány, Derš Kis and Demeter. They also seized property worth 3,000 marks and various deeds. However, the king took away their property and they fell back to Derš Nagy. Even before 1307, Derša Nagy's son, Túri Mikuláš Kövér, gave the castle Litava (Cerovo) to Hunt's sons Demeter and Derš in exchange.
In 1318, the castle was occupied by Matúš Čák, who expelled Derš's son Tomáš from the castle. Soon, probably at the time of the fighting between the robes, the castle was destroyed.
Since 1342, it has been listed as desolatum castrum Lytwa. Its role was then probably taken over by the newly built nearby castle, also called Litava, which, however, has been called Čabraď since the 15th century. History does not recognize them and often the history and mentions of both castles intersect.
Based on a document from 1342, Ákos Karczag discovered in 2002 the remains of the first castle on the Pustý hrad hill, south of the village of Cerovo. Remains of walls and ditches in the wooded terrain are now visible.
No legends are available.
How to Get There – Litava - Cerovo 
Architecture
Photo Gallery 
History – Litava - Cerovo 
Legends and Tales