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 (původně německy Klingenberg) je hrad nad vodní nádrží Orlík u soutoku Vltavy s Otavou v okrese Písek. Stojí na skalnaté ostrožně asi jeden kilometr severně od obce Zvíkovské Podhradí v nadmořské výšce 370 m. Hrad je ve správě Národního památkového ústavu a v návštěvních hodinách je přístupný veřejnosti. Od roku 1958 je chráněn jako kulturní památka ČR a v roce 1978 byl zapsán na seznam národních kulturních památek ČR. Hrad založil pravděpodobně již král Přemysl Otakar I. a jeho potomkům patřil až do vymření rodu v roce 1306. Poté ho získali do zástavy Rožmberkové, od kterých ho vykoupil král Karel IV. Během husitských válek se však vrátil do zástavy Rožmberkům. Po nich se v držení hradu vystřídali Švamberkové, Eggenbergové a nakonec Schwarzenbergové. Během své historie byl několikrát dobýván a přestavován. Profesor August Sedláček jej ve svém díle nazval králem českých hradů.

Paid private parking 400 m above the castle - Adults 70 CZK - Seniors from 65 years 50 CZK - Holders of ZTP / P and ZTP / P free of charge - Holders of the ZTP card up to 18 years free of charge - Holders of ZTP card over 18 years 50 CZK - Card holders EYCA, ISIC, ITIC and EUROCED (EUROBEDS) 50 CZK - Cardholders of ICOM, ICOMOS, Association of Museums and Galleries of the Czech Republic, National Museum, NPÚ employee cards (max 1 + 3 family members), free tickets issued by the NPU and journalists after prior accreditation free of charge - Children up to 6 years free of charge - Children and youth from 6 to 18 years: 50 CZK - Students under 26 years: 50 CZK - Family admission (max. 2 adults and 3 children up to 18 years): 190 CZK - Group Guide for over 20 people for free - Pedagogic escort of an organized group of children for a mass payment and a maximum of 2 people per group for free - Collective visits of children under 6 years:20 CZK Free: - Children up to 6 years - Holders of ZTP / P and ZTP / P - Holders of the ZTP card up to 18 years - CardhCOM, ICOMOS, Association of Museums and Galleries of the Czech Republic, National Museum, NPÚ employee cards (max 1 + 3 family members), free tickets issued by the NPU and journalists after prior accreditation free of charge - Group Guide for over 20 people - Pedagogic escort of an organized group of children for a mass payment and a maximum of 2 people per group for free

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