Stock Photo - The royal castle of Zvíkov was probably founded at the end of the rule of the king Pøemysl Otakar I died in 1230 The oldest part of the castle was the powerful prismatic tower called ´Hlízová´ something like ´bulbous´ or ´Markomanka´ To the tower the king´s palace was built which was finished under the rule of the king Pøemysl Otakar II The palace was built on the ground plan of an irregular pentagon with a courtyard which is on the ground_floor and in the 1st floor surrounded by an arcade gallery After the palace has been finished strong fortifications with gates and guard tower were constructed in the 13th century In the 14th and 15th century the castle with its mighty fortification system served as a protection for the nobility from the environment In the case of danger they escaped behind its strong walls CTK Photo/Marketa Hofmanova