Discover Orlovice: Castle, Church and Countryside

Orlovice brings together the history of a medieval castle, a striking church complex and a forested landscape. If you are looking for a hotel in Orlovice, you can choose your destination based on whether you want your stay to focus on historic sites or trails through the surrounding countryside.

Orlov Castle and its history

The archaeological site of Orlov Castle lies on a rocky outcrop in the Litenčické vrchy hills, on the western edge of Orlovice. The castle was founded around the turn of the 13th and 14th centuries by the Knights Hospitaller of Ivanovice and served as a residence of the Order of St. John in Moravia. Ditches and ramparts remain at the site; an archaeological investigation in the 1930s uncovered the remains of a round tower.

A different perspective comes from local legend: recorded in 1617, it tells of the daring hunter Jarek, who found a nest containing three young eagles on a hilltop. According to the tale, he named the castle and his lineage after the eagles. This should be distinguished from the earlier history of settlement: west of present-day Orlovice, a fortified hilltop settlement stood in the area of St. Wenceslas Church and near the ruins of the medieval castle. The site was already in use in the Early Iron Age.

St. Wenceslas Church and traces of earlier construction

St. Wenceslas Church stands on a slight rise at the eastern end of the village, offering views across the wider area. Its complex includes a mortuary chapel and a cemetery that is still in use, enclosed by a wall. During renovation work in the 1930s, masonry probably dating from the Romanesque period, in the 12th or 13th century, was uncovered in the church’s south wall. The present-day church complex and an earlier trace of construction, dated with due caution, therefore stand side by side at this site.

Forests, streams and trails

Orlovice lies at the foot of the Litenčická pahorkatina highlands. Mixed forests surround the village from west to east. Several small streams rise in the surrounding woods and join to form the Medlovický potok. The wooded belts and waterways give the area distinct features: the forests frame Orlovice, while the streams converge into a single watercourse. The wide views from the rise on which St. Wenceslas Church stands add to the landscape.

The municipal trail plan from 2011 describes the route of a blue-marked long-distance hiking trail from Vyškov via Moravské Prusy, Orlovice, the remains of Orlov Castle, Pavlovice, Kozlany and Kojátky to Bučovice. The route passes St. Wenceslas Church and the castle ruins. Check the current waymarking on site before setting out.

The same trail plan describes a comparatively dense network of field and forest tracks connecting Orlovice with neighboring municipalities and allowing visitors to walk through the surrounding countryside. It also mentions a direct footpath from the west side of the village square, leading up a flight of steps to the church. Unmarked parking areas in front of the church are intended for visitors to the church and cemetery; check the parking situation on site.

For cycling, route 5029 connects Vyškov, Orlovice, Hvězdlice and Nesovice; in Nesovice it joins EV4. The routes offer different points of reference for planning: the described long-distance hiking trail specifically passes the church and castle ruins, while the cycling route connects several towns.

Discover more destinations: Olšany, Podbřezice, Hvězdlice, Rostěnice-Zvonovice, Švábenice, Kozlany, Mouřínov, Rybníček.

Return to the regional travel overview: Vyškov District.