[2][3][4] Orlík was established as a royal castle beside a ford across the Vltava River in the second half of the 13th century, probably by Ottokar II of Bohemia, although in the Middle Ages it came into the hands of noble families and its ownership changed many times.

The most famous member of the family was Field Marshal Karl Philipp, Prince of Schwarzenberg, who was victorious over Napoleon in the Battle of Leipzig in 1813.

The current Romantic Gothic appearance dates from 1849 to 1860, when partial remodelling in this style was carried out according to plans by Bernard Gruber.

Adjoining the chateâu is an English-style large park, covering 143 hectares (350 acres), with native and non-native species of trees and shrubs, and a greenhouse with a collection of fuchsias.

The cremated remains of Czech MP Karel Schwarzenberg were buried in the family tomb at Orlík Castle in a private cermeony on 9 December 2023, on what would have been his 86th birthday.