Photos, videos and docs of Jon Searles, with the keywords: "hrad"

Hrad Zvikov (in the distance), Orlik, Stredocesky kraj, Bohemia(CZ), 2015

nobody@ipernity.com (Jon Searles) — Mon, 05 Feb 2024 18:19:40 +0000

In this photo, Hrad Zvikov is only visible in the distance, but I liked this photo generally so I still included it in this collection. The castle was built in the 13th Century during the reign of Otakar I, and I've put a more thorough description for Picture 3.

Hrad Zvikov, Picture 2, Orlik, Stredocesky kraj, Bohemia(CZ), 2015

nobody@ipernity.com (Jon Searles) — Mon, 05 Feb 2024 18:19:42 +0000

Jon Searles has posted:

In this photo, the castle is only barely visible behind the trees, although the docks for the tourist boats (seen elsewhere in this collection), are visible on the water. For a more complete history of the castle, see the description for Picture 3.

Hrad Zvikov, Picture 4, Orlik, Stredocesky kraj, Bohemia(CZ), 2015

nobody@ipernity.com (Jon Searles) — Mon, 05 Feb 2024 18:19:43 +0000

Jon Searles has posted:

This is more of a closeup of Hrad Zvikov. For a more complete history of the castle, see the description for Picture 3.

Hrad Zvikov, Picture 3, Orlik, Stredocesky kraj, Bohemia(CZ), 2015

nobody@ipernity.com (Jon Searles) — Mon, 05 Feb 2024 18:19:42 +0000

Jon Searles has posted:

Hrad Zvikov, like Zamek Orlik, was originally on a hill, but the high water level of the Orlik reservoir has made it more accessible from all directions. Today, it's on more of a peninsula than a mountain. The first mention of Hrad Zvikov dates to 1234, and it is thought to have been built on the orders of king Otokar I, as it was an official royal castle, and not one owned by a local noble. However, from 1306, it became the property of the Rosenberg family, and was passed through various owners until it returned to government ownership in 1947, on the eve of the Communist coup the following year. It remained in government ownership after the fall of Communism in 1989 (as far as I have been able to determine), and today is maintained as a tourist attraction. This is the most complete view I was able to get of the castle.

Zamek Orlik, Stredocesky kraj, Bohemia(CZ), 2015

nobody@ipernity.com (Jon Searles) — Mon, 05 Feb 2024 18:14:31 +0000

Jon Searles has posted:

This is Zamek Orlik one of two castles on Orlik. Like many castles in the Czech Republic, it could more easily be defined as a chateau. This "chateau" version, if that's a fair characterization, dates to 1508, after the original 13th-century castle burned down. Also, like most Czech castles, this complex was originally built on a hill, at an altitude of approximately 500 metres ASL. However, the contruction of the Orlike reservoir meant that it is no longer significantly higher than the level of the water (formerly of the Vltava, now of the reservoir).

Hrad Karlstejn, Karlstejn, Bohemia (CZ), 2011

nobody@ipernity.com (Jon Searles) — Sat, 06 Oct 2012 11:23:03 +0000

Jon Searles has posted:

One additional day trip which rapidly followed on the Switzerland trip was yet another visit to Karlstejn. I didn't take any real photos with my real Nikon, since I was out of film, but I did get one or two decent shots with my cameraphone. This was of the castle, obviously.

Zamek Nachod, Picture 6, Edited Version, Nachod, Kralovehradecky kraj, Bohemia (CZ), 2011

nobody@ipernity.com (Jon Searles) — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 08:50:03 +0000

Jon Searles has posted:

This is my favorite Nachod shot. I hope that you agree.

Zamek Nachod, Picture 5, Edited Version, Nachod, Kralovehradecky kraj, Bohemia (CZ), 2011

nobody@ipernity.com (Jon Searles) — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 08:45:43 +0000

Jon Searles has posted:

Here's a courtyard shot of the zamek, although I don't count it as a true interior shot. The courtyard is accessible in the winter, even if the interiors of the buildings are not.

Zamek Nachod, Picture 2, Nachod, Kralovehradecky kraj, Bohemia (CZ), 2011

nobody@ipernity.com (Jon Searles) — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 08:45:43 +0000

Jon Searles has posted:

Here's a shot of the zamek that perfectly captures the gloomy weather on the day of my visit. This one is unedited.

Nachod, Edited Version, Kralovehradecky kraj, Bohemia (CZ), 2011

nobody@ipernity.com (Jon Searles) — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 08:45:43 +0000

Jon Searles has posted:

This is a generic photo taken from the old town square, but the center point is the zamek. As with the other landmarks mentioned earlier, I wouldn't mind knowing what building that is on the right, with the clock tower.

Zamek Nachod, Edited Version, Nachod, Kralovehradecky kraj, Bohemia (CZ), 2011

nobody@ipernity.com (Jon Searles) — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 10:09:52 +0000

Jon Searles has posted:

The current Zamek Nachod dates to 1544, although its built on an earlier castle from the 13th Century, so it can be considered a rebuild. The tower was rebuilt in 1721 in response to storm damage. I'm not aware of the current owners, but the castle is open to the public for tours. It was closed for the winter when I was there, though, so I had to settle for photographs of the exterior.

Zamek, Edited Version, Jindrichuv Hradec, Jihočeský kraj, Bohemia (CZ), 2011

nobody@ipernity.com (Jon Searles) — Tue, 09 Aug 2011 10:30:34 +0000

Jon Searles has posted:

This is the Zamek, or castle or chateau, of Jindrichuv Hradec. When I was there, it appeared to be undergoing a renovation. Oddly, this zamek is also classified as a hrad, the other class of Czech castle, possibly because of its age. Hrads are more combat-oriented, so they tend to be older, whereas zameks resemble chateaus or palaces, and are more administrative in nature, mostly dating from the renaissance period to the 19th Century. This zamek dates to 1220, and retains a medieval tower that you can see in the right of this picture, but was rebuilt in the 16th Century by the Lords of Hradec to roughly its present form, so this is probably the reason for the dual classification. Additional changes were made in 1678-1696 and 1709-1735, and in 1773 some of the renaissance interiors had to be rebuilt after a fire. In 1851, the zamek was restored again. Finally, it passed to full government control when it was seized following World War II, and in 1976-1993 it was restored as a tourist attraction. It is still open to the public, although as I said it was undergoing a further reconstruction when I was there.

More information is available here: www.zamek-jindrichuvhradec.eu/history/

Moat Around the Zamek, Picture 2, Edited Version, Jindrichuv Hradec, Jihočeský kraj, Bohemia (CZ), 2011

nobody@ipernity.com (Jon Searles) — Tue, 09 Aug 2011 10:30:34 +0000

Jon Searles has posted:

Here's another shot of the zamek. I've cropped the bottom to eliminate the mess caused by the reconstruction.

Moat Around the Zamek, Picture 2, Edited Version, Jindrichuv Hradec, Jihočeský kraj, Bohemia (CZ), 2011

nobody@ipernity.com (Jon Searles) — Tue, 09 Aug 2011 10:30:34 +0000

Jon Searles has posted:

The zamek, due to its age, still has a moat, although now it's as much decorative as anything else. I'm not aware of whether it's used for something else now, but I noticed that it is as well maintained as a narrow canal.

Melnik at Night, Edited Version, Bohemia (CZ), 2011