Orlík Castle, Castle in Orlík nad Vltavou, Czech Republic
Orlík Castle is a fortress with Gothic features built on a rocky hilltop above the Vltava River. The structure has multiple towers and walls extending across several levels, with interior rooms that reflect different periods.
Founded in the second half of the 13th century by King Přemysl Otakar II as a royal guard post above a toll ford on the Vltava, Orlík passed to the Švamberks in 1514, who rebuilt it as a chateau. A fire in 1508 led to Renaissance reconstruction, and in 1719 it came by inheritance to Prince Adam Franz of Schwarzenberg.
The rooms hold furnishings and objects belonging to the Schwarzenberg family, who lived here until the mid-20th century. Visitors see personal belongings and art collections that reveal how nobility lived in this place.
The castle is open to visitors from April through October, and you should wear sturdy shoes to handle the stairs and pathways. Guided tours last about an hour and lead through multiple levels of the building.
The castle itself never moved: after the Orlík Dam was built on the Vltava, the raised water flooded the valley and reached the foot of the rocky promontory, so the building only appears closer to the water. The reservoir also submerged the nearby lowlands.
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