Zlín Castle, Medieval castle ruin in Barabáš, Czech Republic

Zlín Castle is a medieval fortification in the city of Zlín whose stone foundations and wall fragments sit on elevated ground. From this vantage point, the stronghold once allowed residents to watch over and protect the surrounding lands.

Zlín Castle was probably founded in the mid-13th century by Vilém of Hustopeče, a courtier of King Přemysl Otakar II, who held estates in southern and eastern Moravia. The castle is absent from a 1322 purchase contract, suggesting it was destroyed in the early 14th century during the raids of Matúš Čák Trenčiansky. The Šternberk family held it from 1358, and a standing castle is mentioned in 1360.

The site shows how medieval residents organized their lives and defended their lands from this hilltop stronghold. Walking through the ruins, visitors can see which parts served as living spaces and which areas were fortified for protection.

The site is accessible by marked hiking trails from the city center and requires sturdy footwear for uneven ground. The paths can become slippery, so care is needed especially after rain or wet weather.

Local lore claimed the castle was vast, with two cylindrical towers, walls two metres thick, a dungeon and a secret underground escape tunnel. Excavations in 1938 and 1940, led by Antonín Slovenčík at the urging of historian Karel Stloukal, tested those tales. The site later served as a quarry, and a cellar recorded by Ivan Borkovský was quarried away.