Pořešín Castle, Castle ruin in Pořešín, Czech Republic

Pořešín Castle is a ruin on a rocky promontory above the left bank of the Malše, 525 m above sea level. Its core has a two-part palace and a round bergfrit, later hidden by a raised perimeter wall. Three section ditches and two forecourts survive, along with fragments of the palace and gate walls.

Bavor III of Strakonice founded the castle around 1300 as an administrative centre; it is first documented in 1312. In 1317 the Bavor family exchanged it for Vitějovice, and the new owners took the name z Pořešína. In 1423 Jan Žižka failed to take it by treachery; Ulrich II of Rosenberg then held it and had it demolished in 1434.

The castle gave its name to the lords of Pořešín, a family that died out in 1423; Markvart of Pořešín held high provincial offices in the second half of the 14th century. Today the Hrady na Malši association cares for the ruin and runs a castle museum in the building in front of the grounds, with a scale reconstruction of the castle before its destruction.

The site is reached via marked walking trails with informational signs explaining the different areas and their original functions. Visitors should exercise caution as these are unprotected ruins with some areas of loose stonework.

The castle was founded around 1300 by Bavor III of Strakonice and passed by exchange to the lords of Pořešín, whose line died out in 1423. Jan Žižka failed to take it by treachery that same year, and King Sigismund sold it in 1434 to Ulrich II of Rosenberg, who had it demolished.