Zlenice-Hláska: A Medieval Castle Ruin in Czechia

Visitor Information

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Official Website: www.zlenice.cz

Country: Czechia

Civilization: Unclassified

Remains: Military

History

Zlenice-Hláska is a castle ruin located in the municipality of Senohraby, Czechia. It was founded by a Bohemian noble family around the end of the 13th century and served as a fortified residence and manorial hub in the region.

The earliest written record of the castle dates from 1318, associating the site with Oldřich of Zlenice. Over the following centuries, the castle became the seat of several noble families, including the Lords of Dubá and later the Kostka family of Postupice. During this period, it functioned as a center of local governance and noble life, reflecting the feudal structure of medieval Bohemia.

Between 1463 and 1465, Zlenice-Hláska faced a significant military event when it was besieged and captured. Archaeological findings confirm the castle endured intensive attacks involving crossbows, bows, a hook gun (an early type of firearm), as well as artillery firing larger cannonballs and use of a small sling. The siege left the castle heavily damaged, and after these events, it was never rebuilt or reoccupied. By 1465, records describe the fortress as deserted and in ruins.

Following its decline, ownership of the castle changed multiple times through inheritance, legal disputes, and sales involving notable figures such as Ondřej of Dubá, a high judge and legal author of his time, Boček of Poděbrady, and Půta III of Častolovice. Despite these transfers, the castle itself remained abandoned.

Since 1996, efforts to protect and study the site have been led by the Association for the Protection of Cultural Heritage – Zlenice. Archaeological investigations, notably directed by Tomáš Durdík since 1999, have uncovered important details about the castle’s structure and its siege, and conservation projects have aimed to stabilize the remaining walls, including excavation work on the southwestern part of the tower palace.

Remains

Zlenice-Hláska occupies a strategic position on a rocky promontory above the right bank of the Sázava River, encircled by the Mnichovka stream. The castle’s layout follows a typical two-part block-type design featuring a main core and an outer bailey situated on the lower end of the promontory behind the core, providing layered defense.

The approach to the castle was guarded by an earthen rampart and ditch protecting the access road. The first gateway stood within a surrounding wall known as a parkán—a defensive enclosure characteristic of medieval fortifications. Beyond this lay a second gate integrated into a large tower with thin walls and a wooden upper floor or half-floor, opening inward. This tower acted as a formidable barrier controlling entry into the outer bailey.

Within the outer bailey, archaeological evidence confirms only one substantial stone building survives. This structure evolved through several phases, featuring two large rooms. Its southwestern section was notably spacious, suggesting it functioned as a stable during its later use.

Entry into the castle’s core was made over a wooden bridge crossing a second ditch. This bridge rested directly on ground without stone foundations, a design detail reflecting the practical construction methods of the time. Remains of a slender tower gate equipped with a drawbridge are still visible. The drawbridge likely used cradle construction—a type of support harness—and was originally part of a curtain wall, a defensive wall encircling the core, which was later partially demolished during renovations.

The core’s fortifications included a round tower, which likely served as a well tower, supplying water to the inhabitants. A two-sided turret projected from the northeast curtain wall, providing vantage points for defense. Access to the inner courtyard was afforded through a fourth gate positioned between the residential tower and the palace wing, probably reached by a wooden ramp connected to a third gate within the tower.

The palace complex itself comprised about three wings. The southern wing adjoined the residential tower. On the northwest side, the fortifications extended into a bastion—an outward projection designed to cover adjacent walls—that faced the hillside. A bridge over the parkán connected this bastion to a latrine constructed on a plinth, a supporting masonry base added during later modifications.

The residential tower remains the most prominent feature today. Its second floor housed a room vaulted with a barrel-shaped ceiling and included a pointed window allowing light into the chamber. The top floor consisted of a timber chamber granting access to an adjoining gallery or battlement walk. This passage was eventually sealed off after the tower was heightened, marking one of the last structural changes before the castle’s abandonment.