Melice Castle: A Medieval Episcopal Residence in the Czech Republic
Visitor Information
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Country: Czechia
Civilization: Medieval European
Site type: Military
Remains: Castle
History
Melice castle, located in the municipality of Březina-Myslejovice in the modern Czech Republic, was constructed by the Olomouc bishop Jan Volek before 1339. This medieval stronghold functioned as an episcopal residence, reflecting its religious and administrative origins tied to the Olomouc diocese.
Following its completion, the castle was overseen by castellans appointed by the bishops, with Beneš of Melice recorded as its first known castellan. Jan Volek’s successor, bishop Jan Očko of Vlašim, expanded the castle’s religious role by completing a chapel within the complex. This addition is historically verified by the discovery of a stone coat of arms and supported by archaeological digs conducted in the early 20th century. Throughout the 14th century, the castle remained under episcopal management, with a series of vassals recognized as holders from 1353 through 1410, illustrating its ongoing service as a representative seat for the church’s local power.
At the close of the 14th century and into the early 15th century, ownership of Melice shifted amid the period’s political turbulence. The castle was pledged to notable figures including Margrave Jošt in 1383 and later Heralt of Kunštát in 1401, indicating its involvement in the interwoven feudal allegiances of the region.
Melice’s fate changed dramatically during the Hussite Wars. In 1423, a Hussite military expedition seized the castle, converting it into one of their strategic strongholds. However, by 1439 accounts describe Melice as completely destroyed and reduced to ruins. The castle never regained its former prominence, remaining a pile of stones as noted in the 15th century chronicles.
Remains
The remains of Melice castle lie approximately six kilometers northeast of Vyškov, near the villages of Pustiměr and Drysice, adjacent to the Březina military training area. The ruins offer insights into medieval construction, illustrating a fortified noble residence closely tied to ecclesiastical authority.
Archaeological investigations uncovered key features, most notably the chapel’s stone coat of arms, which confirmed the castle’s religious connections and its completion under bishop Jan Očko of Vlašim. Excavations carried out between 1931 and 1938 revealed not only this emblem but also significant architectural traces consistent with the castle’s documented history.
Among the most remarkable discoveries is a large Gothic tiled stove from the castle’s main chamber, commissioned between 1412 and 1416 by bishop Václav Králík of Buřenice. This stove, standing about 280 centimeters high including its stone base, was constructed from over 150 ceramic tiles. The stone foundation of the stove was artistically decorated with reliefs illustrating the life journey of the castle’s lord, depicting scenes that symbolized his rise through earthly challenges, battles with infernal forces, and eventual victory. These motifs provide valuable insight into the symbolic language and personal expressions valued within the castle’s interior during its final decades of use.
Today, Melice exists as a ruin, its remains described historically as a heap of stones. The surviving features attest to the castle’s layered history as an episcopal residence and its role during the Hussite conflicts. The archaeological finds, especially the chapel’s coat of arms and the intricately crafted tiled stove, remain central to understanding the site’s cultural and historical significance.
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