House of Schwarzenberg / Švarcenberkové - Orlík (South Bohemia) - Coats of Arms on Waymarking.com

This perfecly restored and really colorful stucco coat of arms of Princes of Schwarzenberg, which you can find on the wall of a small Baroque house belonging to the Orlík castle.

Castle Orlik, one of the most beautiful castles in Bohemia, is located on a rock on the left bank of the Vltava River. The mansion, a part of the wealth of the famous Prince family of Schwarzenberg, is open for public visits from april to october. Castle is quite a popular destination among Czech and German tourists. Founded in 13th century and burned down several times over the centuries, the fortress raised renovated with new additions and expansions.

Schwarzenberg (Czech: ze Švarcenberka) is the name of a Franconian and Bohemian aristocratic family. The family was first mentioned in 1172. A branch of the Seinsheim family was created when Erkinger I of Seinsheim acquired the Franconian barony of Schwarzenberg, the castle Schwarzenberg and the title Baron of Schwarzenberg, in 1405–1421. At this time, they also possessed some fiefdoms in Bohemia. In 1599 the Schwarzenbergs were elevated to Counts and in 1670 to Princes. The House of Schwarzenberg came into extensive land holdings in Bohemia in 1661 through a marriage alliance with the House of Eggenberg. In the 1670s, they established their primary seat in Bohemia. Until 1918 their primary residence was in Ceský Krumlov, Bohemia (now in the Czech Republic). In the late 18th century, the House of Schwarzenberg was divided into two titled lines (majorats). The elder line died out in the male line in 1965 with Heinrich Schwarzenberg, the 11th Prince of Schwarzenberg. The second line was established with Prince Karl Philipp of Schwarzenberg at Orlík, Murau and Vienna. Today the two lines are united under the current head of the house, Prince Karl VII of Schwarzenberg, who serves as the current minister of foreign affairs of the Czech Republic. [wiki]