Orlík nad Vltavou is a municipality and village in Písek District in the South Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 300 inhabitants. It is known for the Orlík Castle.

Administrative parts

The village of Staré Sedlo is an administrative part of Orlík nad Vltavou.

Etymology

The name is a diminutive of the Czech word orel (i.e. 'eagle'). Orlík was a common name for medieval castles built on a rock, because they resembled an eagle sitting on its nest.

Geography

Orlík nad Vltavou is located about 22 km north of Písek and 58 km southwest of Prague. It lies mostly in the Benešov Uplands. The highest point is the hill Chlum at 502 m above sea level. The municipality lies on the shores of the Orlík Reservoir, built on the Vltava River.

History

The first written mention of Orlík is a document from the period 1230–1251, when customs duties were collected on the Vltava River near Orlík, which was only a small wooden castle at that time. Until 1357, Orlík was a royal property; then it was owned by various noble families. In 1719, it was inherited by the Schwarzenberg family, who owned it until 1948.

Demographics

Transport

The I/19 road (the section from Plzeň to Tábor) passes through the municipality. Over the Orlík Reservoir, the road leads via the Žďákov Bridge.

Sights

Orlík nad Vltavou is well known for the Orlík Castle. It was originally a fortress dating from the early 13th century at the latest, which was expanded into a strong Gothic castle. Nowadays, the castle once again belongs to the Schwarzenbergs. It is open to the public. Next to the castle is the castle park. Of the park's original area of 180 ha, 140 ha have been preserved; the rest was flooded during the construction of the reservoir in the 1960s. In the castle park there is the Schwarzenberg family tomb from the mid-19th century.

Notable people