Kozlov

Kozlov is the forgotten ruin of a small medieval stronghold tucked into the woods above the Olešnička stream, within the town of Štěpánov nad Svratkou, in the Žďár nad Sázavou district of the Vysočina region.

Where exactly are the Kozlov ruins?

The site sits on a rocky spur in the forest between Bystřice nad Pernštejnem and Štěpánov nad Svratkou, high above the Olešnička brook, a tributary of the Svratka river. Administratively the ground belongs to the cadastral territory of Štěpánov nad Svratkou, though the name Kozlov survives from a small village that once stood here and has since disappeared.

What did the stronghold actually consist of?

What historians call "Kozlov castle" was in fact two separate fortified sites - an upper and a lower settlement - roughly 75 metres apart, with the lower one sitting about 20 metres further down the slope. The only way to reach the lower site was through the upper one, a layout typical of small strongholds built along a narrow, hard-to-access ridge. How the two were exactly related is still debated; most likely they were two parts of a single fortified complex, split apart by the sharply broken terrain rather than built as independent structures.

What traces remain today?

On the upper site, archaeologists uncovered the foundations of a square tower measuring roughly 9 by 9 metres, once surrounded by a shallow moat about seven metres wide; a telecommunications mast now stands on the spot. On the lower site, remnants of masonry buttresses survive - likely built to reinforce a residential building perched on the narrow rocky ridge - along with traces of its own moat.

When was it built, and by whom?

Archaeological dating places the occupation of the site between the last third of the 13th century and the first half of the 14th century - a relatively brief span. That period coincides with the rise of the lineage descended from Štěpán of Medlov, who founded the settlement of Štěpánov in the first half of the 13th century and became the forefather of the later lords of Pernštejn. Over the following decades, the estate changed hands several times: by 1348 it belonged to the Zubštejn domain, by 1360 to Pyšolec castle, and during the 15th century it passed under Pernštejn castle. In 1483, Štěpánov formed a distinct part of that large estate together with the neighbouring villages of Olešnička, Vrtěžíř, Kozlov, Lesoňovice, Koroužné and Švařec.

Why does mining keep coming up in the area's history?

From the 13th century onward, the region around Štěpánov nad Svratkou was mined for silver, copper and iron ore, and the town itself functioned as an industrial hub of the estate. The small stronghold at Kozlov may well have watched over both the route along the Svratka valley and the mineral wealth of the surrounding hills.

Frequently asked questions

Is Kozlov a castle in the usual sense? Not really - it is the ruin of a small fortified site, actually two connected settlements, upper and lower, rather than a grand castle. What survives today are foundations, moats and fragments of masonry.

How old are the ruins? Archaeological finds date occupation to between the late 13th and the first half of the 14th century, meaning the site is more than seven hundred years old, even though it was only in use for a few decades.

Can you still see any walls? On the upper site, tower foundations and moat traces remain (a telecommunications mast now occupies the spot); on the lower site, fragments of masonry buttresses and its own moat survive.

Which noble family is linked to this area's history? The lineage founded by Štěpán of Medlov, ancestor of the lords of Pernštejn - by the 15th century, the estate including Štěpánov and Kozlov had passed under Pernštejn castle.