Passing through the Town Hall, we find ourselves on a quiet green area headed by Medieval walls with three Gothic arches. This is the western and only remaining wing of the former Royal Castle. The castle originally had a squared layout with four wings lined with arcades and surrounding a small courtyard.
The castle used to hold three fortification towers, but none of them are standing today. In the still-existing western wing we can visit the large Gothic Hall which displays copies of frescoes from the end of the 15th century. The castle was first mentioned in writing in 1254 and was built (under the supervision of King Přemysl Otakar II himself) at the same time as the town, which explains why it fits so perfectly into the town's layout. The last ruler to live in the castle was King Wenceslas (Václav) IV. In 1419, the castle passed into the hands of the Písek burgrave Jan Hájek of Hodětín, but it went through many owners soon afterward. It was purchased by the city of Písek in 1509, where it remained until 1547. Over the following years and centuries it was abandoned and gradually fell into disrepair. The western wing, entrance tower, and parkán were demolished in 1851, and the castle was transformed into the torso we see nowadays. The remaining part of the castle houses the Prácheň Museum today.
http://visitpisek.cz/

Písek Castle

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Drhovle Baroque Chateau stands on the plane. The old linden trees leads to the chateau from the south, while the current arrival leads from the main road from the north. The chateau is one-storey building with extremely long input southern wing. Transit through the wings takes the form of a two-storey clock tower. The east wing opens arcades into the courtyard, while the opposite wing of the building has bricked arcades. Castle chapel comes from r. 1851. The chateau facades are decorated in contrast, brick-red and pale ocher. From the floor of the east wing is also a staircase descends to the park.
The chateau serves as a retirement home now.
http://waymarking.com/

Drhovle Chateau

Set in beautiful surroundings of the forested landscape in the valley of the River Otava, the spa ensures its patients and guests peace, quiet and plenty of privacy. Spa care is provided in the building of a chateau built in 1875 in the neo-Gothic style by the Lobkowicz family of nobles, who used the building as their summer residence up to the year 1926. The chateau and the added treatment and accommodation pavilions are surrounded by the lush greenery of the English-style park and the forest. The spa consists of four buildings, of which three are connected by a heated corridor. This means that patients and guests have everything they need – meals, accommodation and treatment – easily accessible all under one roof. The chateau and the English-style park constitute a cultural heritage site. This has helped to maintain the original character of the whole area and prevent it being spoiled by insensitive human activity.
http://czechtourism.com/

Vráž Chateau

The town of brewing Protivín is situated 12 km south-east of the town Písek in the valley of the Blanice river, 383 m a.s.l.
It used to be a village with a Gothic castle, which was first mentioned in 1282. In the 14th century the castle became property of the Rožmberks. Later the castle and the village were attached to the domain of the castle town Hluboká nad Vltavou after 1527. From the beginning of the 18th century they were under the ownership of the Schwarzenbergs and the town became a centre of the large domain. In 1715 big fire destroyed most of the town.
The former Gothic castle, which stands on the southern outskirts of the present town, was rebuilt into the Renaissance chateau in 1600. It was first reconstructed in the Baroque style at the second half of the 17th century. Its present appearance is from the reconstruction under the design of the Schwarzenbergs' architects P. I. Bayer and A. E. Martinelli, it was between 1717 - 1731. The large park can be found behind the chateau.
http://waymarking.com/

Protivín Chateau

Originally a small complex, the castle was continuously extended until 1278. After the Přemyslid dynasty died out in 1306, Zvíkov became property of the Rožmberk family. After 1337 the settlement under the castle has been fortified, as a part of thorough repairs. Its fortifications were so strong that even the Hussites, during the Hussite Wars, besieged it for four months in 1429, but found it a tough nut to crack and failed to take it. To protect against heavy artillery its walls were further strengthened.
Although Emperor Charles IV placed it on a list of royal castles not to be pawned, his successors ignored his decree and by 1431 it was in the possession of the Rožmberk dynasty. At the start of Thirty Years' War Zvíkov was owned by a rebellious Protestant nobleman whose garrison of 140 men successfully defended the castle against 4,000 Habsburg troops in 1618. The defendants agreed to capitulate to the Emperor's forces only in October 1622. Subsequently, it was looted and devastated. During the 1640s the Švanberks modified the palace and extended it in Renaissance style.
After the damaged inflicted by the war, Zvíkov was restored, but its glory was long gone and the castle served only for farming purposes. A fire accelerated the deterioration of its buildings in 1751. Thus a once-important seat of Czech kings it had become an almost ruin by the 1840s, at which time the Schwarzenbergs, owners of the ruin, invested huge sums in a thorough reconstruction, which restored the heart of the castle to its former glory.
At the end of 17th century it ceased to have military value and was used as granary. The decline continued and in 1751 fire damaged a large part of the palace. In 1780 the chapel was deconsecrated. The facade of the palace collapsed in 1829 and between 1880 and 1902 the castle was reconstructed, only to be confiscated by the state in 1947.
The Orlík Dam, which was built between 1954 and 1962 and named after Orlík Castle, deluged the castle downtown and made Zvíkov easily accessible. Major restorations between 1970 and 1980 concentrated on the palace.

Zvíkov Castle

In 1243 a part of the castle was donated to the Order of the knights of St. John. Enlarged in the late Gothic, adjusted in the Renaissance and baroque style. The Church of St. Procope, a capitulary hall and an ambit (unique Gothic wall paintings), the tower Rumpál with a view. In the southern palace a historical and ethnographical exposition, pipes, interiors from the 19th century, fez production, weapons, motorcycles etc. The chateau gallery of contemporary art placed in the Baroque prelature (paintings, sculptures, pottery, porcelain, jewellery).
http://czechtourism.com/

Strakonice Castle

Chateau built in the years 1728-1730 at the urge of Count Bissingen, ranking among the best examples of Baroque architecture. A. Canevalle was the project designer. The two-storey building encloses a beautiful English park. After 1989 the castle was returned to its last pre-war owners – the Schwarzenbergs.
https://czecot.com/

Čimelice Chateau

The village Kolodeje nad Lužnicí is situated about 4 km north of the town Týn nad Vltavou. It lies on the Lužnice river not far from the confluence of the Lužnice and Vltava rivers, 355 m a.s.l.
Only a ferry across the Vltava river is mentioned in this place in the 16th century. The courtyard was founded later and then the Renaissance fortress was built here too. The fortress was rebuilt into a Baroque chateau in about 1740 and the St. Anne's Chapel was added one year later.
http://waymarking.com/

Mitrowicz castle

Helfenburk is a castle ruin 5.5 kilometres (3.4 mi) from the town of Bavorov in the South Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic. It is situated on Malošín stone hill at an altitude of 683 metres (2,241 ft). Between the municipalities of Koječín and Štětín there is a paved road that leads to the castle.
In 1355, a town was built by members of the Rožemberk family to defend the nearby town of Bavorov. There were four brothers – Peter, Jošt, Oldřich and Jan of Rožemberk. Building permission was given by King Charles IV. It was a reward for their services, due to them having accompanied the King on his journey to the coronation in Rome. In the year 1381, Bavorov was given the rights of a free town. After the death of Jan in 1389 and his brother Oldřich, Jan's son Jindřich III of Rožemberk became the owner of the castle. He was one of the opponents of King Václav IV. The King was trying to harm him as much as he could, allegedly even with help of Jan Žižka.
After Jindřich III's death, Oldřich II of Rožemberk, son of Oldřich, became the owner of the castle. He was very young and was tutored by Čeněk from Vartemberk. He later converted to Catholicism and was raised in this religion. After the defeat of the Hussites in Tábor, he ordered the arrest of Hussite priests in all of his lands, and imprisoned them in his castles. It is proved that at Helfenburk two Hussite priests died. After the death of Oldřich II, the ruler of the castle was his son Jindřich IV of Rožemberk, and after him Jan II. Both constantly had problems with money and debts, which had been incurred by their father's war costs. The castle was given as a guarantee to Přeškov from Čestice. The contract allowed free access to the castles by former owners. After his death the castle was bought out and returned to the Rožemberk family. The period from 1468 to 1472 was troublesome around the castle. There were neighbourly disputes between Rožemberk and the towns of Písek, Sušice and Vodňany. The castle did not face such big losses, but these disputes also affected neighbouring villages. After the death Jan of Rožemberk and subsequent death of his son Jindrich V, ownership of the castle went to Vok II of Rožemberk. Because of dues he sold the castle to the brothers Václav and Zikmund Vlček of Čenov.
Václav Vlček was originally just a regular captain, he had fought in Hungary and Poland, and in service of the King gained many military skills and became a field captain. He was known as an exceptional leader and specialist in defence. He strengthened the defence of the castle, and built three circular walls with placers for shooters between 1473 and 1483. He was very strong and unpopular with Rožemberk's neighbours, so he lent money to Count Jindřich Preuschenek of Hardegg to buy the castle, which he did in 1489. After his death, the castle returned to the hands of the Rožemberks. In 1523 there was a dispute over succession, because Petar IV. of Rožemberk, as well as his brothers, had no children. Between 1515 and 1518 the castle was in the hands of Želízko of Tourov, who fired all the staff and was all alone in the castle.

Hausberk Castle

Vysoký Hrádek is a Renaissance castle in Temelín, Czech Republic
Lords of Březí, from the court of Knín and Býšov originally constructed the fortress and courtyard. The first records we have are of Albert of Březí, who died in 1367. The fortress was inherited by his son, Svatomír, and then by another two sons of Albert, Smil and Bušek.
After the Lords of Březí died out, the fortress, called Hrádek, was inherited by their relatives, the Lords of Býšov.
After changing hands dozens of times, in 1948, the estate was confiscated as part of land reforms in the country, and now houses the information center for the Temelín Nuclear Power Station. Several exhibits using computer graphics and films explain how to control nuclear reactors, and reactor physics and safety.

Březí u Týna nad Vltavou (Vysoký Hrádek Chateau)

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 Ages 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. In 1802 the chateâu was burned out, and during the subsequent repairs a fourth storey was added to the building. 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. 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 moat. 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 arcades 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 (350 acres), with native and non-native species of trees and shrubs, and a greenhouse with a collection of fuchsias. The Pseudo-Gothic Schwarzenberg vault is in the western part of the park.