Pomezí Castle

Pomezí Castle (also known as Markl) is the remains of a vanished medieval stronghold on a modest, wooded ridge some 600 metres above sea level, right by the Czech-Austrian border, within the cadastral area of the village of Pomezí, part of Staré Město pod Landštejnem in the Jindřichův Hradec district. The site sits less than 250 metres west of the walls of the younger Landštejn Castle, and the two share a history of guarding the same stretch of frontier.

When was the castle built, and why?

Archaeological research traces fortified settlement here back to the end of the 12th century, when the site became the administrative centre of the Austrian part of Vitorazsko, a territory split off from Bohemia after 1179. The earliest structure was built of timber; the castle only took on its stone form around the year 1200. Its job was to watch over the border route before that role passed to the newly built Landštejn.

Why did the castle stop existing?

Pomezí's story ended at the close of the 13th century, when the stronghold was destroyed by fire — almost certainly set deliberately. The timing was no coincidence: Landštejn, raised between 1220 and 1230 specifically to defend the Czech-Austrian border in place of the older Austrian outpost at Markl, left no room for a rival fortress standing right next to it. The destruction of Pomezí sealed the shift of the defensive role to the new castle.

What has survived to the present day?

Little remains of the original fortifications beyond scattered wall fragments. Far better preserved is the Romanesque Church of St. John the Baptist, standing within the former castle grounds — protected as a cultural monument since 1963, it is the site's main surviving physical witness, rather than the castle ruins themselves. The ground where the castle once stood is fenced off and not open for casual exploration, which sets Pomezí apart from neighbouring Landštejn, which welcomes visitors freely.

How does Pomezí relate to Landštejn Castle?

The two sites make sense only together, since their histories are tightly linked — the older, Austrian-built Markl (Pomezí) guarded the frontier first, and once the Czech side raised its own, stronger fortress at Landštejn right next door, the old castle became redundant and was destroyed. For visitors, the practical upshot is that the path from Landštejn passes close to where Pomezí once stood, though the ruined ground itself has to be viewed from outside the fence.

Frequently asked questions

Can you visit the ruins of Pomezí Castle? Not fully — the former castle grounds are fenced off, so visitors can get close to the area but not walk among the foundations themselves.

What can still be seen of the castle today? The most valuable and best-preserved element is the Romanesque Church of St. John the Baptist within the former castle grounds, protected as a cultural monument since 1963; beyond that, only fragments of the old defensive walls survive.

Why did Pomezí Castle stop existing? It burned down at the end of the 13th century, most likely deliberately, once its defensive role was taken over by the newly built, stronger castle of Landštejn nearby.

How far is it to Landštejn Castle? The ruins of Pomezí lie less than 250 metres west of Landštejn's walls, so both sites are easy to combine on a single walk through the area.

Where does the name Markl come from? Markl is the historical, German-sounding name for the same castle, used alongside the Czech name Pomezí in historical accounts and on the region's information boards.