Chateau Kroměříž

The Archiepiscopal Chateau is the dominating feature of the historical part of Kroměříž. Originally a Gothic castle on the site of a former ancient Great Moravian fortified settlement, later rebuilt in Renaissance style. During the Thirty-Years War, in the years 1643 and 1645, the castle was ravaged by Swedish troops. At the end of the 17th century, the pretentious Early-Baroque palace was build up by Bishop Karl II of Lichtenstein – Kastelkorn on the site. Authors of the architectural conception of the whole castle complex were F. Lucchese and G. P. Tencalla, Italian architects. The Chateau was separated from the town by a deep water moat with a drawbridge. Only the lower part of the former castle was preserved which was rebuilt in a spectacular 84 m high tower. The today´s equipment, however, come from the times after the great fire in 1752. In the 19th century the moat was filled in. Interior of the Chateau is a unique example of an aristocratic seat of prominent nobility of Moravia. There are tens of splendid rooms and halls, like the Throne Hall of the Olomouc archbishops that served for official receptions, decorated with paintings imbedded in the walls. The Assembly Hall with gilded stuccoes, cristalline chandeliers, mirrors, portraits and ceiling pictures is the most beautiful and the largest Rococo hall in the country, chosen by Emperor Ferdinand for meetings of the Imperial Assembly in 1848. The Czar´s Room served as a reception salon for Russian Czar Alexander III (1885). The most precious collection of the Castle represents the picture gallery with works of European painters of 15th to 18th centuries: Gothic and Renaissance paintings by famous German and Dutch painters of the 16th century, master works of Rubens´ pupils, and Italian painters (P.Caliari-Veronese and others). The most famous and valuable is the painting "Apollo and Marsyas" by Tizian, one of his top masterpieces. A part of the Castle is the Podzámecká Garden (the Garden Below the Chateau), renewed on the area of 64 hectars at the beginning of the 19th century. A number of romantic elements and garden buildings were added, like the Pompeian Collonade with antique statues, the Coloredo Collonade, Chinesse Pavillion, bridges and fountains. Together with the Květná zahrada (Flower Garden), the gardens are among the most significant examples of garden architecture in this country and in all of Europe. The Chateau and the Gardens of Kroměříž were inscribed in 1998 on the UNESCO World Heritage List.