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Pořešín is a castle-ruin. Its name is derived from the name of Poreša. The ruin is located 5 kms from the town of Kaplice and is risen on the rock over Malše-river, in the altitude of 560 metres above sea level.

The castle was established on break of 13th and 14th centuries by Bavor III. of Strakonice. However, the castle, as lodged (inhabitated) building, did not lasted for long time. In 1315, the castle founder decided to transfer the castle to brothers Werner, Racek and Přibík of Vitějovice. These brothers were ancestors of Pořešín Nobles. Anyway, also this Parentage did not stay in the castle for long time-period, as last member of this Parentage died in 1423. So, all members died and also the castle died in this sense, too. It is true that this castle was in possession of Hroch of Maršovice, relative of Pořešín Nobles, but this owner sold  it to Oldrich II. of Rosenberg in 1434. However, Oldrich decided that the castle would be demolished. The reason for this act was an apprehension that the castle could be besieged by utraquists. Since this year, the castle history is known as a ruin only.

Anyway, despite its not too long history, it would be a pity to omit Pořešín-castle completely. From the building point of view, this castle is a speciality among castles of South Bohemia. Whereas most of local castles had - inhabited tower, surrounded with palace building, as basic defending system, Pořešín-castle was equipped with covering wall (this phenomenon could be seen in case of Moravian castles). The access was protected with barbicans in two levels and also with three transverse moats.

So, the access into internal spaces of the castle, was possible from northwest part, through main tower gate only. Anyway, in front of this gate, the defence was secured with further four gates, which were located in fortifications of each barbicans (till now, one of them was preserved only). The lodging (inhabitated) space was situated opposite main gate. This two-storey bulding was consisted of two parts. From its covering rampart, there remained practically no trace, and from palace, there are to be seen its north-east and lateral walls only. In spite of the fact that the groundfloor was overslept with ruins, it is to be assumed that the rooms in each floor were accessible through wooden balcony, now dilapidated. There were probably several small rooms, located over main halls.

Nevertheless, each right castle has to have some secret, and its importance has to be strengthened with fictions and legends, so Pořešín cannot be missed, of course. Above Malše-river, there is resting great boulder. It has a speciality, a hollow on its upper wall. In this hollow, the bandits from Pořešín-castle washed their blood, in order to enter the castle with their clean hands. Merchant carriages passing to Austria were quite often attacked here by robbery troops of Pořešín. The master was punished by execution (decapitation), just at this boulder, known as „Bloody Bowl“. Nevertheless, the head of this Pořešín-man was let in hollow of this boulder as a food for ravens. Anyway, the decapitation was not the only punishment for this man. Knight of Pořešín has to do penance for his crimes each night to go round castle-ruins. Anyway, the legend about the treasure made one Pořešín farmer to look for it. However, instead of the treasury, he found woman-monster, which appeared to him suddenly and gave an instruction, how to get free the knight and find a treasury. A farmer, in vision of great wealth, fulfilled all, what a woman said to him. Anyway, when he thought that the treasury finding could not miss him, he heard a secret voice, informing him, that his cattle would be found in rye-field. So, the farmer was suddenly put in front of heavy decision: possible wealth hidden in treasury or a security of earning his living with his own forces. The farmer preferred the second possibility. So, the treasury was not discovered and the knight was not rescued and is obliged to go round the castle each night and hope that he would be free one day.

Text: Denisa Arvajová

Photo: Google Earth