Starý Plumlov

Starý Plumlov is the earthwork remnant of a medieval stronghold near Plumlov in Moravia, tucked away today inside the Březina military training area in the Vyškov district. The site only picked up its current name, "Old Plumlov," long after it had fallen out of use, once a later castle closer to the town of Plumlov took over both its role and its title.

When was the original castle built?

Archaeological evidence places the stronghold's active life between the last quarter of the 13th century and the first quarter of the 14th century. It was most likely founded by a member of the Lords of Ceblovice, at a time when regional nobles were busy staking out defensible hilltop sites across the Drahany Highlands.

Who was Friduš of Linava?

Around the start of the 14th century, the castle is thought to have belonged to Friduš of Linava, a knight notorious for raiding trade routes in the area. His activities eventually caught the attention of King John of Luxembourg, who in 1312 forced him to tear down his own fortress. It's one of the few episodes from the castle's history that survives in any detail, and it hints at how unsettled this borderland once was.

How did the castle change hands and lose its importance?

Before 1320, Duke Nicholas II of Opava sold the settlement and castle, then known as Drahuš, to King John of Luxembourg. The king, around 1322 or 1325, passed on the already-abandoned stronghold along with its surrounding estate to Vok of Kravaře. The Kravaře family, however, chose to build their main seat elsewhere, at a new castle rising closer to what is now the town of Plumlov. The old fortress near Drahany slowly faded from memory, and locals began calling it "Old Plumlov" to tell it apart from the new residence.

What remains of the castle site today?

Only earthworks survive: traces of ramparts, ditches, and foundations visible to a careful eye, but no standing walls or towers. The location sits within the Březina military training area, which means public access is restricted. Anyone planning to visit should check current entry rules for the training grounds beforehand, since casual wandering into the area isn't advisable or always possible.

Why does this place matter to visitors interested in local history?

Starý Plumlov is a rare case of a castle that literally handed down its name to its successor, the later stronghold near the town of Plumlov now known as Plumlov Castle. The story of a noble family relocating its seat, and an original fortress gradually slipping into obscurity, mirrors the fate of many small medieval defensive sites across Moravia that never survived above ground into modern times.

Frequently asked questions

Is Starý Plumlov the same as Plumlov Castle? No. Starý Plumlov is the older, 13th-century stronghold whose remains lie near Drahany, while Plumlov Castle is the later structure built closer to the town, which inherited the name and the role of family seat.

Can visitors tour the ruins of Starý Plumlov? The site lies within the Březina military training area, so access is restricted and depends on current regulations, which should be checked before planning a visit.

What has survived from the original castle? Mainly earthworks, outlines of ramparts, ditches, and foundations, with no standing walls or architectural features remaining above ground.

Where does the name "Starý Plumlov" come from? After the Kravaře family moved their seat to a new castle closer to Plumlov, the original, abandoned fortress became known locally as "Old" Plumlov to distinguish it from the new residence.