Orlík (zámek)

Orlík was originally a castle rebuilt into a chateau near the village of Orlík nad Vltavou in the Písek district of the South Bohemian region. It stands on a rocky promontory above the Vltava, whose valley here is flooded by the waters of the Orlík reservoir. The chateau grounds are protected as a cultural monument, and its position right above the water makes it one of the most photogenic residences in the region.

The castle was founded in the second half of the 13th century by King Přemysl Otakar II and passed permanently into noble hands under the reign of Charles IV. Notable owners included the Zmrzlík family of Svojšín, the Švamberk family — who rebuilt the castle into a chateau — and after them the Eggenberg and Schwarzenberg families. At the start of the Hussite Wars, Orlík was one of the Utraquist strongholds and served as a power counterweight to Catholic Zvíkov.

The castle still served a fortress function during the Thirty Years' War, and this role was still considered in the second half of the 17th century, when fears of a Turkish invasion prevailed. After that, until the early 19th century, it was only maintained. In 1802 the chateau became the seat of the Orlík branch of the Schwarzenberg family, and the last major building work took place in the 1860s. During the 20th century the chateau spent more than forty years in state ownership, and after the Velvet Revolution it was returned to the Schwarzenberg family.

Thanks to its position above the reservoir, Orlík is an ideal destination for combining a tour of the monument with relaxation by the water — the area around the Orlík reservoir is a popular recreational spot offering scenic boat trips. The chateau combines wonderfully with a visit to nearby Zvíkov. If you plan your stay in the region with lodging nearby, you'll have time both to tour the chateau and to wander the reservoir's shores at leisure, without rushing.