ORLÍK CASTLE (ZÁMEK ORLÍK)

This elegant castle dominates the left bank of the Vltava, which has become a lake since the construction of a dam. In the ^19th century, the Schwarzenberg family rebuilt it in the neo-Gothic style. The site alone warrants a visit, and the path leading to the castle offers an enchanting journey along the Vltava, made accessible by the construction of the Orlík dam. Of the Gothic castle built by Wenceslas II in the late ^13th century, only a cylindrical tower remains today. The original complex was enlarged in the ^14th and ^15th centuries. In 1508, it was destroyed by fire and subsequently rebuilt by the Švamberks. Further major work was carried out in the ^18th century, including the addition of a second storey. The castle became the estate of the second branch of the princely Schwarzenberg family. It was they who decided on the large-scale reconstruction of the residence (after the fire of 1802), in neo-Gothic style between 1849 and 1860, under the direction of architect B. Grueber. Many regret this radical transformation. The castle's neo-Gothic and Empire-style rooms display the Schwarzenberg family's rich collections, including a large number of rifles from the ^17th to the ^20th century. The most beautiful room is undoubtedly the "Teska" room, with its wood-carved ceilings. Don't forget to stroll through the surrounding English park, which includes the Schwarzenberg family vault.