Veveri Castle, Brno

Veveří Castle, located near Brno, is a historic fortress with deep roots in the region's ducal and royal heritage. According to legend, the castle was founded as a hunting lodge by Přemyslid Duke Conrad of Brno in the mid-11th century, earning its name "Veveří," which translates to "squirrel" in Czech. However, the earliest documented reference to the castle dates back to the early 13th century, during the reign of King Ottokar I of Bohemia. During this time, the fortified structure was used as a prison for rebellious nobles.

The castle likely began as a modest wooden or masonry residence, situated near the Romanesque Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary. By the 1220s, a more substantial stone castle began to take shape on a rocky promontory, protected by a deep moat carved out of the rock. The keep, the most ancient part of the structure, remains well-preserved and offers a glimpse into the early stages of the castle's development.

Veveří Castle was a key military and administrative center. In 1311, King John of Bohemia pledged it to Jan of Vartemberk, but it soon passed to Margrave Charles (later Emperor Charles IV) in 1335. His brother, Margrave John Henry, expanded the castle, giving it a distinctive medieval look. The castle played a strategic role during the Hussite Wars in the 15th century, enduring multiple sieges. Later, Przemyslaus II of Těšín fortified it further. In 1468, Matthias Corvinus occupied it. By the late 15th century, Václav of Ludanice acquired the castle, but his family eventually lost it due to financial troubles.

Today, Veveří Castle stands as a testament to its rich and varied history, reflecting the architectural and political developments of medieval Bohemia. Its strategic location and storied past make it a significant cultural landmark in the Czech Republic.