The castle was founded in the 11th century on the site of the original Great Moravian fortress and it was the first of a chain of castles to protect the southern border of the Přemyslid state. The first written mention of Bítov Castle dates back to 1061. The castle was founded on a spur on the left bank of the Želetavka river. The castle was divided into three parts separated by each other. His appearance did not differ much from the older fortifications. Bítov took a prominent place in the Znojmo principled principality and stopped the process of German colonization to the north.