Although Emperor Charles IV placed it on a list of royal castles not to be pawned, his successors ignored his decree and by 1431 it was in the possession of the Rosenberg family.

At the start of Thirty Years' War Zvíkov was owned by a rebellious Protestant nobleman whose garrison of 140 men successfully defended the castle against 4,000 Habsburg troops in 1618.

The oldest part of Zvíkov is a massive prismatic residential tower named Hlízová with palace buildings built on its sides.

During the reign of Ottokar II of Bohemia, a palace named Královský ("King's Own") was built and this ground plan has been preserved until today.

The castle has its own ghost, Zvíkov's imp,[3] and had inspired several painters and writers like the theatrical comedy Zvíkovský rarášek by Ladislav Stroupežnický.

Today, Zvíkov (opened from Spring to Autumn) is hiking attraction and serves as a place of art exhibitions and stage plays.