Orlovice

Orlovice is a small village in the Vyškov District of the South Moravian Region in the eastern Czech Republic. Sitting at an elevation of roughly 332 metres, the municipality covers a cadastral area of 1,448 hectares and is home to just over 300 residents.

Where does the name Orlovice come from?

The village's name traces back to a local legend about Orlov Castle, which once stood on a hill right beside the settlement. According to tradition, the castle was founded by a bold hunter named Jarek, who discovered an eagle's nest with three eaglets on the mountaintop. The Czech word for eagle, "orel," gave rise to both the castle's name, Orlov, and later the village name, Orlovice.

What happened to Orlov Castle?

Orlovice is first documented in writing in 1328, though the castle above it predates that record. Around 1248, King Wenceslaus I granted the castle to a nobleman named Nehrad. Nehrad's heir later passed it on to the Knights of Saint John (the Knights Hospitaller), who held authority over the area for roughly three centuries. Today only modest traces remain on the hill west of the village — earthen ramparts and ditches from the original fortification. The site has been protected as a cultural monument since 1970.

What is the most important historic building in the village?

The centrepiece of Orlovice is the Church of Saint Wenceslas, built in 1785. It stands on the exact spot once occupied by the castle chapel that belonged to the Knights of Saint John. The church remains the village's principal landmark today, linking the modern settlement to its medieval, castle-era roots.

Is there evidence of earlier settlement in the area?

Yes. Archaeological finds show that people lived on the site of present-day Orlovice long before the castle was built or the village was first mentioned in writing. In 1901, pieces of prehistoric pottery and stone tools dating to the younger Stone Age (Neolithic) were uncovered here, indicating that the area was inhabited several thousand years ago.

What else can visitors see in Orlovice?

The village is also home to a protected heritage oak tree, one of the few living "natural monuments" in the area — a tree that, in its own way, outlasts the visible remains of both the castle and the church.

Frequently asked questions

How many people live in Orlovice? The village has just over 300 inhabitants.

Where exactly is Orlovice located? In the Vyškov District of the South Moravian Region, at an elevation of about 332 metres.

Can you visit the ruins of Orlov Castle? Yes, earthen ramparts and ditches from the castle survive on a hill west of the village and have been protected as a cultural monument since 1970.

Where does the name Orlovice come from? From a legend about a hunter named Jarek who found an eagle's nest on the mountain — the castle Orlov and the village Orlovice were both named after the eagles ("orel" in Czech).

Which church stands in Orlovice? The Church of Saint Wenceslas, built in 1785 on the site of the former castle chapel of the Knights of Saint John.

When was Orlovice first mentioned in historical records? In 1328, although the area has been settled since Neolithic times, several thousand years earlier.