Melechov, Fortified house in Kouty, Czech Republic.

Melechov is a fortified house in Kouty in central Bohemia, protected as a cultural monument. The structure combines residential elements with defensive walls and stands in a forested setting.

Melechov was built in the 14th century as a Gothic watchtower guarding travellers on the land route from Austria through Humpolec and Ledeč to Kutná Hora. From the early 15th century the brothers Albert and Ratimír of Nelechov held it; in 1415 Albert affixed his seal to the Czech nobility's protest against the burning of Jan Hus. After Albert's death in 1421 his son Petr Skála lived there until 1437, and the fortress later passed to Emperor Sigismund and then to Matěj of Tis.

The fortress is also called Nelechovská or Koutecká after the brothers Albert and Ratimír of Nelechov, who held it from the early 15th century. In 1415 Albert of Nelechov sealed the Czech nobles' protest against the burning of Jan Hus at Constance, and the name Nelechov stuck to the stronghold.

The ruins stand on the slope of Melechov hill north of Kouty, with two wall fragments, a still-visible water ditch and a dried pond to the north. The site is freely accessible; the walls were partly uncovered and the whole fortress repaired and stabilised during the 2004–2005 archaeological survey.

The first medieval pottery from the site was collected in 1962 by archaeologist Pavel Radoměrský and placed in the National Museum in Prague. A survey in 2004–2005 uncovered further stretches of wall, and the whole ruin was then repaired and stabilised.