Velešín Castle

Velešín Castle is located directly opposite the town of Velešín, with which it has always had the closest relations. It was not until 1978 that this connection was forcibly severed by the construction of a drinking water reservoir. Nowadays, the castle is accessible from the village of Sedlce in the České Budějovice district. The castle was one of the first stone castles in the Czech Kingdom. It was probably founded on the edge of the border forest by King Wenceslas I around 1230, then briefly passed into the hands of Čéč of Budivojice and then Benes the Proud, the founder of the family of the lords of Michalovice and Velešín. In 1387 it was acquired by the Rožmberks, who destroyed and abandoned it in 1487. The castle is interesting thanks to the hermitage chapel, which was built about 70 years after the castle's demise, and the shaft of unknown purpose, which contained a large tower. Today, the castle is mainly used for nature trips and unique views across the waters of the reservoir.
From history to the present on a timeline

Around 1230

Založení hradu králem Václavem I.

1266

Čeč of Velešín and his wife Gisla, daughter of Hadmar of Kuenring, donate the village of Reinprechts to the monastery in Zwettl.

1268

The Death of Gisly of Kuenring

Around 1270

Přemysl Otakar II grants Velešín as a manor to Benes Pyšný.

Around 1275

King Přemysl Otakar II takes away the castle and manor of Velešín from Benes the Proud.

Around 1285

King Václav II returns Velešín and its estate to Benes' son Jan of Michalovice.

1289

Jan of Michalovice the highest waiter.

1294

Jan of Michalovice promotes myths to the Monastery of the Holy Crown.

1306

The son of Jan Benes of Michalovice confirms the right to the monastery of Svatá Koruna.

1317

Jan of Michalovice's wife Johanna, daughter of Jindřich of Rožmberk, dies at the castle.

1350

Jindřich of Velešín, son of Benes donates to the Monastery of the Holy Crown 100 groschen of Prague for the salvation of his soul.

1355

Jindřich dies at Velešín Castle, buried in the Monastery of the Holy Crown.

1358

The division of the Velešín manor between the three sons of Jan, Benes and Henry.

1359

Benes pays both brothers out of the castle.

1360

The brothers Beneš and Jan made Peter and Jošt of Rožmberk guardians of the castle and estate.

1361

The only heiress Markéta, daughter of Benesov, entered the union with her uncle Petr from Michalovice, a descendant of Jan from Michalovice.

1362

Only Petr of Michalovice has the castle and the manor.

1368

Petr of Michalovice dies of the plague on his way to Vlach, and Těma of Koldice is appointed guardian.

1379

The estate was taken over by Jan Michalec from Michalovice.

1387

The castle and the manor are bought by Oldřich I. and Jindřich of Rožmberk for 3000 kopecks of Prague groschen.

1391

King Václav IV dismisses the castle and the estate from the royal manor.

1409

The attempted capture of the castle by the treacherous band of Matthias the Führer.

1412

After the death of Jindřich of Rožmberk, Čeněk of Vartemberk was appointed guardian.

1417

Martin Sova, a priest of the same name, comes to Velešín.

1420

Oldřich II of Rožmberk, after his defeat in front of Tabor, switches from the under-army to the Catholic party and expels Martin Sova from Velešín.

1423

To his sorrow, Petr of Krasejov confesses that Ocásek of Újezd and Martin of Velešín wanted to betray the castle to Žižek.

1433

Jan Čapek's army raided the castle and, after negotiations at the castle, received 400 kopecks of Prague money as a ransom for negotiating a truce.

1441

Oldřich of Rožmberk gives the castle to the widow of Peter of Šternberk, Perchta.

1444

The ambush of Jan Smil of Křemže's retinue under the castle and the slaughter of his soldiers.

1487

Vok of Rožmberk orders the castle to be abandoned.

Around 1550

A hermitage chapel was built on the ruins of the castle.

Opening Hours
MonthDayHours
The whole yearEveryday0 - 24
Ticket price
CategoryPrice (CZK)
Free