Nezvěstice Fortress

Welcome. Stop for a moment, take a breath and feel the surrounding silence, which only interrupts the noise of the nearby river of the Reunion. Right now, you're standing in a place that once formed the center of one of the local power centers. You are in a place called Under the Chateau, where the landscape is spread out in front of you, which keeps the secrets of the extinct fortress Nezvěstice. Perhaps at first glance you might wonder where the monument is. Look around you. What you see today as a slightly decayed terrain and greenery over the left bank of the river is basically an open history book, even though its pages are now covered with a layer of grass and time. You're standing on a so-called stronghold, which means that even though the walls no longer reach the sky, the floor plan itself and the trace of earlier construction in the country remain.

Let's go back in time together so that this space starts to make sense to us. In order to understand why the fort was built here, we must move to the 14th century. At that time, this area was divided between several different owners, creating an interesting mosaic of ownership and influence. The first written mention of Nezonestic dates back to 1379. So imagine that, even at a time when there were very different chivalry and political conditions in Europe, there was a seat here that served as a government home. The fortress was not only a defensive object, but above all a symbol of the status and power of a local nobleman. It was a basic unit of landscape management, a place from which the surrounding fields, forests and, of course, the strategically important river Sáslav, which in ancient times was a key artery for transport and trade.

Now pay attention to what you can perceive with your senses right now. Even if you do not see the noble palaces here today, the Nezevestic architecture is still present in the form of landscaping. If you look at the space around you, notice that the entire area of the fort is approximately 20 to 30 meters in diameter. It's a relatively compact space, which is typical of the smaller aristocratic strongholds of the time. They were designed to be easily sustainable and safe at the same time. Now, please move slowly to the south side of the object. This is where you can see the most significant remains that have survived for centuries. Note the rest of the wall that stands out from the field to a height of one and a half to two meters. This wall is today the only tangible witness of the time when the nobles ruled here. Touch in the spirit of the stones and try to imagine what this wall once looked like when it was part of a solid perimeter fortification that separated the security of the court from the wilderness and the unknown outside world.

Who actually lived here and who made the decisions in these walls? The history of Nezestic is linked to the names of men who built their power on land ownership and strategic contracts. The personalities we associate with this place include Oldřich z Řisutě or Jan z Roupova. A very important figure was Jan Žichovec z Duban. One of the most important written tracks is connected to it. In 1526, the fort appears in the contract which Jan Žichovec z Duban concluded. These documents are an invaluable resource for us today, because they tell us that the fort at that time still worked and was a recognised property. Imagine these men going through here, planning their economy and discussing the politics of the time. It was places where everyday life was blended with strict rules of the social order.

Here we come to the part that may be the most mysterious. Why are we only seeing the ruins and remains of the wall today? Nezvěstice served as a mansion until the mid-sixteenth century. In 1549 there was a fundamental change when Nezvěstice was connected to the estate of Vltín. With this change of ownership and administrative shift, the era of decline has also begun. The fort was gradually abandoned. It is no secret that, with the advancing time and the change in architecture, small chateaux have become inefficient. The nobility sought greater comfort, more modern buildings and safer centres of power. Nezvěstice so slowly disappeared, their stones may have been used in construction in the surrounding area and nature gradually returned the site. It is fascinating to think that the construction, which was still mentioned in official contracts in 1526, has become just a memory over a few decades.

Today this place is protected as a cultural monument of the Czech Republic. Although you will not find any large halls or high towers, it is in this modesty that the power of Nezestic lies. It's a place that teaches us humility before time. If you look at the south wall and then the stream of the river Slava, you realize that while human structures are gone, the landscape remains. A 30-metre-diameter fortress is now a silent monument that encourages us to think about how our history has changed and how powerful settlements have become silent hills in the landscape.

Now imagine the last painting. It's half the sixteenth century, the sun sets over the Realm, and the last owners are leaving their fort. They lock doors that no one else opens, and they go towards the Wolf. All that remains is the silence and the wall that you see before you.

Now I encourage you to take a walk around the fort for a while. Try to admire the entire space, perceive its dimensions and think about what could have happened in each of these meters of soil. Go through the edge of the fort and let your imagination finish what time has erased. Let yourself be filled with the atmosphere of this forgotten corner of history.

Thank you for accompanying me on this short journey in time to the extinct fortress Nezvěstice. I hope you found some peace and inspiration in this quiet place. I wish you a pleasant continuation in discovering the beauty of our landscape and its hidden heritage. Goodbye.