Vranov's location was first mentioned in Chronica Boemorum by Cosmas of Prague in 1100 as a border sentry castle (oppidum (et) castrum Wranou).

[1] It was built by the Dukes of Bohemia to defend the southern border of Moravia against raids from the neighbouring Austrian March.

Until 1323 the castle was in royal hands but in that year king John of Bohemia pawned Vranov to a powerful Bohemian nobleman, the viceroy Jindřich of Lipá.

In 1421, during the disturbances of the Hussite Wars the Bohemian noble family of Lichtenburg took control of the castle and the contiguous market town.

The confiscated castle was consequently sold to one of the Albrecht von Wallenstein's generals, Johann Ernst of Scherfenberg.