Krumvald

Krumvald is the ruin of a medieval castle hidden in woodland east of the village of Dobrohošť, within the cadastral territory of Budíškovice on the Bohemian-Moravian Highlands. No walls remain above ground today — the site preserves only deep moats, the best-surviving trace of the entire fortification.

When was the castle built?

Krumvald was founded around the turn of the 13th and 14th centuries, roughly 1300–1302. Its founders were the Ranožírov family, a Moravian noble branch bearing deer antlers on their coat of arms, originating from the Znojmo region. Indirect evidence of the castle's early years comes from the surname attached to local nobles: in 1310, brothers Smil and Wolfram "of Gruenwald" appear in records, a name tied to the site's German designation.

What did the castle look like?

The fortification had a rectangular core dominated by a tower. Its defenses relied on moats reaching depths of up to 15 meters — these earthworks are what survived best and remain the main visible relic of the site today. The rest of the structure, including its walls, has not survived.

Why did the castle disappear so quickly?

Krumvald stood for less than a century before falling out of use. Its building stone was later dismantled and reused to construct a manor house in Budíškovice, which was subsequently rebuilt into a Baroque chateau. In effect, the material from the original stronghold was physically relocated into the new residence in the nearby settlement, while the castle hill itself gradually emptied out and became overgrown with forest.

What can visitors see on site today?

No masonry remains at Krumvald — only the outlines of deep moats cutting through the forest floor, evidence of the former fortifications. The remnants are protected as a cultural monument of the Czech Republic, even though almost nothing survives above ground apart from the shape of the terrain itself. This is a destination for those interested in field archaeology and the history of medieval settlement in the region, rather than a conventional sightseeing stop with standing architecture.

Where exactly is Krumvald located?

The ruin lies east of and above the village of Dobrohošť, administratively within the cadastral area of Budíškovice, in the Jindřichův Hradec district of the Vysočina Region. It occupies a quiet, wooded corner of southern Bohemia, away from the main tourist routes.

Frequently asked questions

Are there any castle walls left at Krumvald? No. The only visible trace of the former stronghold is a system of deep moats, in places up to 15 meters deep — the walls and buildings have not survived.

Who founded Krumvald castle? It was founded by the Ranožírov family, a Moravian noble branch from the Znojmo area bearing deer antlers in their coat of arms, around the turn of the 13th and 14th centuries.

Why didn't the castle last longer? Krumvald was in use for less than a hundred years, and its stone was later reused to build the manor house in Budíškovice, which hastened the disappearance of the original fortification.

Is Krumvald a protected site? Yes, the remnants are listed as a cultural monument of the Czech Republic, even though only the moats are visible within the forested terrain today.

Is it worth visiting as a tourist? It suits history enthusiasts and hikers who appreciate historical context and landscape features rather than travelers looking for preserved castle architecture.