Blansek Ruin

Blansek represents the typical feudal fortress of the Moravian Middle Ages. The ruin lies in the cadastral territory of Suchdol in the Moravian Karst and is located only about half a kilometer from the famous Macocha abyss. The entrance to Punkva caves lies right below the hill on which the castle stands - close proximity to one of the most impressive natural phenomena in Bohemia and Moravia. Since 1964 the castle has the status of a protected cultural monument.

The castle was founded by Olomouc Bishop Bruno ze Schauenburku in the second half of the 13th century. The first written mention dates back to 1275, when the fort was already developed in the important centre of the region. It soon became the centre of a large lounging circuit involving more than thirty manjas - a measure of its feudal influence. It was only since the end of the 14th century that the bishops began to admit it, following the Margrave wars that struck Moravia. The first recorded sloth was Erhart z Kunštátu a ze Skal, to which Bishop Mikuláš z Riesenburka entrusted it in 1396. In the following decades the castle was alternately owned or held by various magnates - Aleš z Kunštátu a Lysic (from 1400), Vilém Zajíc z Valdeka (1417- 1420) and rod ze Studnice (1420- 1435).

During the Hussite wars, Blansek became the foothold of Bishop Jan Železny in the fight against Hussites. Although it is reported that the castle faced Hussite hauling in 1424 and 1431, reliable reports of its conquest are unknown. It is assumed that the conquest has not occurred, or at least the castle has not been damaged enough to become unhabitable. In 1440, there was a gathering of bishops, confirming his political relevance. Soon afterwards came the decay - in 1461 it is declared desolate. Tradition tells us that it was destroyed by a fire, and that it was still modified during the 30-year war to temporarily defend against the Swedes.

Construction site Blansek consists of its own core dimensions of 70 × 25 meters, which was created in the 13th century behind Bishop Bruno and contained a palace. This headquarters dominates the Punkva Valley. Sometime before the year 1349, a large front was added to the castle, separated from the core by a double moat - a typical medieval protective structure. Some of the remains of the palace and walls have been preserved; the remains of the prepayment are also apparent.

The castle went through a sharp decline, especially in the 20th century. In the 1930s, for reasons of security, some of the flimsy masonry was demolished to prevent it from falling on the road leading to the Punketed Caves, which had just opened up to the public. The emergency condition is maintained until now. The wall crown is loose, the remains of the old fortress are constantly threatening to collapse into the Punkva Valley.