The following text is taken from the file "Notes on the design of the municipal emblem and flag," which was prepared for the municipality of Malečov in 2020 by Stanislav Kasík for the Heraldic Office "Dauphin" in Roudnice nad Labem. Published with the permission of the author and the municipality of Malečov.
Like Rýdeč, Řetouň is also mentioned in the same entry in the provincial records from October 1, 1407, when Herbort of Ročov, as a guardian of the orphans of Beneš Škopek of Dubá in Kostomlaty, deeded half of Liběšice with its accessories to Albert of Dubá (see above Rýdeč). The village of Řetouň had almost the same fate as Rýdeč.
In 1787, Řetouň („Řetaun“) was part of the Zahořany chamber manor. The village consisted of 22 houses (Schaller, V., 1787, p. 305).
In 1833, Řetouň („Řetaune“) belonged to the Záhořany estate, as part of the Ploskovice and Záhořany estates, including Svádov, owned by Leopold II, Archduke of Austria and Grand Duke of Tuscany. The village consisted of 22 houses with 119 inhabitants. It was affiliated with Proboštov (St. John the Baptist).
In 1848, Řetouň („Wřetauň“, „Řetauň“, „Řetaune“) had 23 houses with 137 inhabitants and belonged to the Zahořany estate, owned by Karel Count Chotek (Palacký, Description, 1848, p. 77).
Otto’s dictionary provides statistical data about Řetouň („Vřetouň“, „Řettaun“) from 1890. The village consisted of 24 houses with 118 inhabitants of German nationality. It was affiliated with Proboštov (St. John the Baptist) and belonged to the governorate and district of Litoměřice (OSN XXI., 1904, p. 606).
Linguists provide the following interpretation of the village’s name. This local name was originally probably in the form of „Vřětúň“ or „Vřetouň“, meaning Vřetoun’s court. The personal name Vřetoun is derived from the word „spindle“ (Profous, III., 1951, p. 561). A spindle was the oldest tool for spinning textile plant fibers and wool. It consisted of a smooth wooden stick, 15–50 cm long, tapered into a blunt point in the upper half (Vondrušková, Alena: Jařmo, parkán, trdlice aneb výkladový slovník historických pojmů, které upadají v zapomnění. Praha 2011, p. 176).
Photo Documentation
Published photographs are protected by copyright. If you are interested in downloading them, please send us a message at info@malecovskyrozhled.cz. The photographs come from private archives, Petr Špaček’s book „Jak to bylo na Ústecku 2“, and especially from the archives of the Ústí nad Labem City Museum. 
