Orlík nad Vltavou – Castle, Park and Aquarium

There are several different themes to explore on a trip to Orlík nad Vltavou: the interiors and park history of Orlík Castle, exhibitions at Akvárium Orlík, and the hydroelectric power station and a nature trail along the left bank of the Vltava. This makes it easy to plan your stay around historical, natural history or technical interests.

Orlík Castle and its history

The castle tour tells the story of the house and the Orlík branch of the Schwarzenberg family. Highlights include portraits, family trees, and an extensive collection of orders and awards. Portraits and family trees give the family history a tangible place on the tour, while the awards add another collection to explore.

The interiors have largely been preserved in the condition in which the Schwarzenbergs were forced to leave them in 1948. Four rooms on the first floor are exceptions. This means the tour can be understood both through its exhibits and through the state of preservation of the rooms.

Parkland and the Schwarzenberg Tomb

The extensive landscaped park took on its present form after 1802 under Karl Filip von Schwarzenberg. He established a branch of the family there, based at Orlík. Promenades were also laid out in the park as walking paths through the landscaped grounds. The park's history and paths are therefore distinct attractions alongside the tour of the castle interiors.

Another historical landmark is the Neo-Gothic Schwarzenberg Tomb, a family mausoleum for a branch of the Schwarzenbergs. It lies in the park at Orlík nad Vltavou, about 1,500 metres northwest of the castle. The mausoleum was built between 1861 and 1864 according to the plans of Karl III Schwarzenberg and consecrated in 1864.

Akvárium Orlík: Fish and the Reservoir

Akvárium Orlík focuses on the freshwater world of Czech waterways. The exhibition includes carp, pike, perch and trout, among other fish. It offers a natural history focus that clearly differs from the family history explored at the castle.

Other exhibits explore the history of the surrounding area: photographs document the beginnings of the Orlík Reservoir and the area as it used to be. An exhibition of live Atlantic salmon looks at the fish's former life in Czech rivers up to their extinction in the 20th century.

Hydroelectric Power Station and Nature Trail

On a tour of the Orlík hydroelectric power station, you can visit the engine room and the dam. The tour lasts about an hour and is available year-round with advance booking. You can get there by car, bicycle or, for example, on an excursion boat from Orlík Castle.

The Orlík–Zvíkovské Podhradí nature trail offers a longer route. It begins at Orlík Castle and follows the left bank of the Vltava to Zvíkovské Podhradí. The route is about 30 kilometres long, is intended for pedestrians and has 15 information panels. Its length and information panels make it a different kind of visit from the castle, aquarium or power station tours.

Plan Your Stay Around Your Interests

If you are looking for a hotel in Orlík nad Vltavou, you can plan your trip around the different attractions: the castle and mausoleum offer a historical focus, the aquarium combines freshwater fish with the history of the reservoir, and the power station tour covers the engine room and dam. The nature trail, with its length and information panels, offers a walking route of its own. You can start by deciding which of these experiences matters most to you during your stay.

Discover more destinations: Vrcovice, Štědronín-Plazy, Nerestce, Podolí I, Mišovice, Albrechtice Nad Vltavou, Boudy, Horosedly

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