Stronghold in Malešov, Fortified house in Malešov, Czech Republic

The stronghold in Malešov stands on a rocky spur in the northwest of the village. Its core is a massive four-storey residential tower with a Gothic window on the east side and a Renaissance facade added later. Around the tower, parkans (wall walks) and two round corner towers survive; the smaller northeast tower held a well, the larger southwest tower a prison. A cut ditch with a stone bridge separates the tower from the forecourt.

The stronghold was first recorded in 1303, when Přibyslav of Malešov held it; in 1359 it was sold to Sedlec Monastery. The Ruthard family of Kutná Hora then owned it until 1411. In 1421 Hussites besieged it and forced the garrison to surrender, and in 1424 the Battle of Malešov was fought nearby, where Jan Žižka defeated the Prague troops.

The name Malešov comes from the Ruthard family of Kutná Hora, who took the title "z Malešova" after acquiring the stronghold and held it until 1411. From 1666, when the Špork family bought the estate, the fortified site served as the economic and administrative centre of their domain, with offices and officials' flats built over the vaulted moat.

The site is best explored on foot, with the stone exterior and elevated location offering the best views of surrounding terrain. Visitors should wear comfortable shoes since uneven surfaces and possible steps require careful walking.

The residential tower served as a granary until 1980, fitted with a new roof topped by a Baroque lantern when the Špork family converted the stronghold into an estate centre after 1666. The south-west round tower of the walls, which held the prison, collapsed around 1850 and was replaced by a plain wall.