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The Watchtower (hláska) is one of the highest towers in Zvikov castle. It is unfortunately not accessible to the visitors; we have photographs for those who are interested.
The construction of the edged dojon – the watchtower (hláska), formerly also called “round”, started around the middle of the 13th century. The southern part, where the attacks of conquerors with missiles and later on with fire arms threatened, features a sharp edge thickening the walls. Stone balls fell on the wall under a sharp angle and slid down without serious damage to the masonry.
A similar type of tower can be seen in Strakonice as well. Two facts play a role: both locations are not far from each other and the Bavors of Strakonice appeared repeatedly in the post of burgraves in Zvikov at that time. Both towers are similar, just the edge is solved in different ways: in the tower in Strakonice material was removed - in Zvikov, material was added.
The tower was accessible from a ladder or a steep staircase on the level of the first floor. Nowadays, we can see a preserved porch with semibeams on the northern part. The entrance on the ground floor is modern (it was cut in 1812 during the reconstruction of the tower). Between the first and second floors there is a stone staircase built in the strength of the walls. One may climb higher up on the wooden stairs. There used to be a wooden balcony on the preserved stone semibeams. We do not know of the original top of the tower. In 1554 Henry the Elder of Svamberk had the tower raised with the fourth floor and had a room for the surveillance officer built. The adjustments were made by Honz Vlach. Two blazons placed at this height are dedicated to Henry the Elder of Svamberk (the carved sign – swan) and to his wife Eliska of Rozmberk (the painted sign – rose). The total height of the Watchtower is 32 metres, the walls on the ground floor are 2,80 metres thick.
