Kurovice Castle, Fortified house in Kurovice, Czech Republic

Kurovice Castle is a two-storey building of rubble masonry on a U-shaped plan, with three wings around a closed courtyard and a hipped roof covered with beaver-tail tiles. Its Gothic core dates from the 15th century; the separate tower that once dominated the south side disappeared when the top floor was added.

The original wooden structure from the 13th century was replaced with stone walls during the first half of the 15th century. This transformation made the building more resilient and reflects the shift from early medieval to late medieval fortification techniques.

The ceiling vault displays a coat of arms from a noble family who oversaw construction in the 16th century. Visitors can still observe these heraldic symbols today, which reveal information about past ownership.

The property is privately owned today, so visitors should check access conditions beforehand. The best time for photography is early morning or evening, when light enhances the stone walls.

The wooden bridge over the two moats was reportedly still standing at the start of the 20th century, long after the fortification had lost its military role. Hebrew inscriptions dated 1656 were found during repairs, hinting at users of the building not recorded in the noble deeds.