Zvíkov Castle
| Zvíkov | |
| Castle | |
 Zvíkov Castle as seen from the air
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| Country | Czech Republic |
|---|---|
| Region | South Bohemia |
| District | Písek |
| Municipality | Zvíkovské Podhradí |
| Coordinates | 49°26.22′N 14°11.31′E / 49.43700°N 14.18850°ECoordinates: 49°26.22′N 14°11.31′E / 49.43700°N 14.18850°E |
| Style | Gothic |
| Date | 1234 |
   Location in the Czech Republic
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| Website: Hrad Zvíkov | |
Zvíkov (Czech: Hrad Zvíkov, German: Klingenberg), often called "the king of Czech castles", is a castle at the junction of the Vltava and Otava rivers, some 15 kilometres (9 mi) north of Písek, in the South Bohemian Region, Czech Republic, next to the village of Zvíkovské Podhradí. It stands on a difficult-to-access and steep promontory above the confluence of the Vltava and Otava rivers. The castle is one of the most important early-Gothic castles in Czech lands.
The area was inhabited as early as prehistoric times, when the Celts built a fort here in the 1st century AD. The current castle was built in the first half of the 13th century, most probably on the orders of King Přemysl Otakar I, but the exact date is not known. The first written mention of the castle comes from year 1234 and owned by the Kings of Bohemia.
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.
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Wikipedia