Zvikov Castle

On the road from Karlovy Vary to Cesky Krumlov, we made quite a few stops along the way to stretch our legs and see a few things. There was one more stop before we headed to Cesky Krumlov, and that was Zvikov Castle.

Built in the 13th century, the castle stands high above the Vltava and Otava rivers. It is not particularly easy to access, with a short walk from the car park. This might not be suitable for everyone, as most of the walk is through the woods and only the last stretch is paved.

entrance @Zvikov Castle

Zvikov is a huge castle complex with numerous auxiliary buildings within its walls. From close up, you cannot really appreciate its size. You definitely need to see it from above. I took a picture of an exhibited photograph showing the castle complex in winter, and once you see it from that perspective, the sheer size of Zvikov becomes much more impressive.

the sheer size of this castle @Zvikov Castle

Once you arrive in the first bailey, you can buy a ticket to enter the castle itself. The outbuildings, walls and battlements can be accessed without a ticket.

bailey @Zvikov Castle

bailey from the other side @Zvikov Castle

The inner courtyard is only accessible with a ticket. From there, stairs lead up into the most beautiful arcade.

courtyard @Zvikov Castle

The arcade on the first floor was absolutely stunning, with sections of the original murals still visible. The murals throughout the castle were particularly impressive and have only recently undergone conservation.

arcade @Zvikov Castle

murals @Zvikov Castle

arcade @Zvikov Castle

Inside the small chapel, the murals looked spectacular. The colours were so intense that they almost looked freshly painted.

chapel @Zvikov Castle

details from the chapel @Zvikov Castle

beautifully restored murals @Zvikov Castle

The adjoining living quarters were equally impressive. It was obvious that a great deal of attention to detail and money had gone into conserving these beautiful works.

murals in the Dance Hall @Zvikov Castle

this would make a great book nook @Zvikov Castle

The Armorial Hall revealed more wall paintings. These paintings date from the end of the 15th century to the beginning of the 16th century. Each modification of the castle brought new wall paintings, leaving many layers of paint underneath the ones we see today.

Amorial Hall @Zvikov Castle

There are also ramparts within the castle that you can climb to get a view over one of the rivers and appreciate the size of the complex. Personally, I think the tower at the entrance would offer the best perspective, but unfortunately it is not accessible.

view from above @Zvikov Castle

watch tower from the entrance @Zvikov Castle

There is a shop as well as a coffee house within the castle, and another place next to the car park. We opted for something to drink near the parking area, as the coffee house was all the way at the other end of the castle and by then we were pretty exhausted.

There are a lot of stairs to climb within these castle walls, but it is definitely worth the effort. Zvikov Castle was an amazing experience. Yours, Pollybert