Orlík Castle
Encyclopedia
Orlík Castle is a chateâu located 500 m northeast of the village of Orlík nad Vltavou
, in the northern part of the District of Písek
, in the South Bohemia Region of the Czech Republic
. The original position of the chateâu, on a rock 60 m above the Vltava valley, was altered by the creation of the Orlík reservoir
in 1954-62, and the chateâu is now barely a few metres above the water level.
The meaning of the name Orlík stems from the word "young eagle" . It is often suggested that this castle would have resembled an eagle perched upon the rocky outcrop above a turn in the River.
it came into the hands of noble families and its ownership changed many times. From 1408 the Zmrzlík of Svojšín
family owned it, and during their time the Hussite
Captain Jan Žižka
of Trocnov stayed in the castle. In 1508 the castle burned down, and was rebuilt as a Renaissance
chateâu by the new owners, the Lords of Švamberk. In 1623 the Eggenbergs
acquired Orlík, and in 1717 it was inherited by the Schwarzenbergs
. At the beginning of the 19th century it became their main residence. The most famous member of the family was Field Marshal Karl Philipp, Prince of Schwarzenberg
, who was victorious over Napoleon
in the Battle of Leipzig
in 1813. In 1802 the chateâu was burned out, and during the subsequent repairs a fourth storey was added to the building. The current Romantic Gothic appearance dates from 1849 to 1860, when partial remodelling in this style was carried out according to plans by Bernard Gruber. The Early Gothic style castle of Orlík was confiscated by the Communist Regime after 1948, but in 1990s was reverted to the Schwarzenbergs.
Access to the chateâu is by a stone bridge across the oat. Three round towers rise above the main façade, one of them being the original, built in the 14th century. The passage into the chateâu is cut into the rock and leads to a trapezoidal courtyard
, with arcade
s on the ground floor. The oldest building is the former palace, which dates from the 14th century and forms the north side of the courtyard.
The interiors are mainly in the Empire style, from the first half of the 19th century. The Lovecký sál (Hunter's Hall), with quadripartite ribbed vaulting, is original Gothic, and the chapel, also dating from the Gothic period, has a net vault. From an artistic point of view, the most valuable rooms are the state rooms on the first floor; the Greater and Lesser Knight's Halls; Hunting Hall; Blue and Empire Saloons; Library, and the Gun Corridor. The interiors are furnished in the style of the period and feature the family's collection of art works.
Adjoining the chateâu is an English style large park, covering 143 hectares, with native and non-native species of trees and shrubs, and a greenhouse with a collection of fuchsia
s. The Pseudo-Gothic Schwartzemberk vault is situated in the western part of the park.
Orlík nad Vltavou
Orlík nad Vltavou is a village in the South Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic. The village was formerly called Staré Sedlo, named after the chateau. "nad Vltavou" means in Czech language "upon the river Vltava" and situated on the left river bank, upon Orlík Dam. Near the village there stand...
, in the northern part of the District of Písek
Písek District
Písek District is a part of the South Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic. Its centre is Písek. It has around 70,000 inhabitants and area of 1,138.13 km². People density is 62 heads per 1 km². In this region we can find 71 villages and 5 towns...
, in the South Bohemia Region of the Czech Republic
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
. The original position of the chateâu, on a rock 60 m above the Vltava valley, was altered by the creation of the Orlík reservoir
Orlík Dam
The Orlík Dam is the largest hydroelectric dam in the Czech Republic. It dams the Vltava River near the village of Solenice, which is near the town of Příbram. The structure is named after a chateau, which is situated a few kilometers above the dam...
in 1954-62, and the chateâu is now barely a few metres above the water level.
The meaning of the name Orlík stems from the word "young eagle" . It is often suggested that this castle would have resembled an eagle perched upon the rocky outcrop above a turn in the River.
History
Orlík was established as a royal castle beside a ford across the River Vltava in the second half of the 13th century, probably by Přemysl Otakar II, although in the Middle AgesMiddle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
it came into the hands of noble families and its ownership changed many times. From 1408 the Zmrzlík of Svojšín
Svojšín
Svojšín is a village and municipality in Tachov District in the Plzeň Region of the Czech Republic.The municipality covers an area of , and has a population of 460 ....
family owned it, and during their time the Hussite
Hussite
The Hussites were a Christian movement following the teachings of Czech reformer Jan Hus , who became one of the forerunners of the Protestant Reformation...
Captain Jan Žižka
Jan Žižka
Jan Žižka z Trocnova a Kalicha , Czech general and Hussite leader, follower of Jan Hus, was born at small village Trocnov in Bohemia, into a gentried family. He was nicknamed "One-eyed Žižka"...
of Trocnov stayed in the castle. In 1508 the castle burned down, and was rebuilt as a Renaissance
Renaissance
The Renaissance was a cultural movement that spanned roughly the 14th to the 17th century, beginning in Italy in the Late Middle Ages and later spreading to the rest of Europe. The term is also used more loosely to refer to the historical era, but since the changes of the Renaissance were not...
chateâu by the new owners, the Lords of Švamberk. In 1623 the Eggenbergs
House of Eggenberg
Eggenberg is the name of an Austrian noble family from Styria whose last male heir died in 1717 bringing an end to the House of Eggenberg.- History :The origin of the Austrian noble house of Eggenberg is shrouded in darkness...
acquired Orlík, and in 1717 it was inherited by the Schwarzenbergs
House of Schwarzenberg
-History:The family was first mentioned in 1172. A branch of the Seinsheim family was created when Erkinger I of Seinsheim acquired the Franconian barony of Schwarzenberg, the castle Schwarzenberg and the title Baron of Schwarzenberg, in 1405–21. At this time, they also possessed some fiefdoms in...
. At the beginning of the 19th century it became their main residence. The most famous member of the family was Field Marshal Karl Philipp, Prince of Schwarzenberg
Karl Philipp, Prince of Schwarzenberg
Karl Philipp Fürst zu Schwarzenberg Karl Philipp Fürst zu Schwarzenberg Karl Philipp Fürst zu Schwarzenberg (or Charles Philip, Prince of Schwarzenberg (April 18, 1771 – October 15, 1820) was an Austrian field marshal.- Life :...
, who was victorious over Napoleon
Napoleon I
Napoleon Bonaparte was a French military and political leader during the latter stages of the French Revolution.As Napoleon I, he was Emperor of the French from 1804 to 1815...
in the Battle of Leipzig
Battle of Leipzig
The Battle of Leipzig or Battle of the Nations, on 16–19 October 1813, was fought by the coalition armies of Russia, Prussia, Austria and Sweden against the French army of Napoleon. Napoleon's army also contained Polish and Italian troops as well as Germans from the Confederation of the Rhine...
in 1813. In 1802 the chateâu was burned out, and during the subsequent repairs a fourth storey was added to the building. The current Romantic Gothic appearance dates from 1849 to 1860, when partial remodelling in this style was carried out according to plans by Bernard Gruber. The Early Gothic style castle of Orlík was confiscated by the Communist Regime after 1948, but in 1990s was reverted to the Schwarzenbergs.
Access to the chateâu is by a stone bridge across the oat. Three round towers rise above the main façade, one of them being the original, built in the 14th century. The passage into the chateâu is cut into the rock and leads to a trapezoidal courtyard
Courtyard
A court or courtyard is an enclosed area, often a space enclosed by a building that is open to the sky. These areas in inns and public buildings were often the primary meeting places for some purposes, leading to the other meanings of court....
, with arcade
Arcade (architecture)
An arcade is a succession of arches, each counterthrusting the next, supported by columns or piers or a covered walk enclosed by a line of such arches on one or both sides. In warmer or wet climates, exterior arcades provide shelter for pedestrians....
s on the ground floor. The oldest building is the former palace, which dates from the 14th century and forms the north side of the courtyard.
The interiors are mainly in the Empire style, from the first half of the 19th century. The Lovecký sál (Hunter's Hall), with quadripartite ribbed vaulting, is original Gothic, and the chapel, also dating from the Gothic period, has a net vault. From an artistic point of view, the most valuable rooms are the state rooms on the first floor; the Greater and Lesser Knight's Halls; Hunting Hall; Blue and Empire Saloons; Library, and the Gun Corridor. The interiors are furnished in the style of the period and feature the family's collection of art works.
Adjoining the chateâu is an English style large park, covering 143 hectares, with native and non-native species of trees and shrubs, and a greenhouse with a collection of fuchsia
Fuchsia
Fuchsia is a genus of flowering plants that consists mostly of shrubs or small trees. The first, Fuchsia triphylla, was discovered on the Caribbean island of Hispaniola in 1703 by the French Minim monk and botanist, Charles Plumier...
s. The Pseudo-Gothic Schwartzemberk vault is situated in the western part of the park.