Hi there my Hivean friends and followers!
With actual traveling still being "canceled" almost all over the world due to the coronavirus pandemic, I just took another "trip" to my photo archives to compile another special collection for you. This time, I will take you on a tour around some captivating Czech chateaus :)
My beautiful homeland, the Czech Republic is home to hundreds (well, that´s the official info but I would say even thousands) of magnificent castles and chateaus dating back long centuries ago. To be honest with you, I am not really much into history and architecture so these landmarks are usually not what I look for during my trips around my country but I have still got to visit a bunch of them out of which I pick 12 for my today´s post.
Without further ado, let me now take you on a tour around these beautiful Czech (Bohemian, Moravian and Silesian) chateaus.
Kvasice Chateau
Located in the picturesque Eastern Moravian village of Kvasice, the Kvasice Chateau is a majestic chateau whose origin dates back to as early as the second half of the 14th century when there was a medieval fortress built on its current site. Over the centuries, the building was reconstructed several times until it got its current Classicist appearance in 1840. These days, the chateau is owned and managed by the municipality and it serves as a nursing home.
Radun Chateau
Found just outside of my Czech hometown of Opava, in the little village of Radun, the Radun Chateau is a charming chateau that was built in the 14th century. Throughout the centuries, however, the building has undergone numerous reconstructions as features from a variety of architectural styles including Gothic, Baroque, Renaissance and Classicism have been added to it. The chateau has been open to the public since 1984 and it´s now one of the most popular tourist attractions of the region.
Krnov Chateau
Situated in the historic center of Krnov, a little town near the Czech - Polish border, the Krnov Chateau was originally a massive medieval castle. The building underwent two major restorations - a Renaissance one in the 1530´s and a Classicist one after a devastating fire in 1779. Currently listed as a Cultural Monument of the Czech Republic, the chateau is now home to several private companies.
Liben Chateau
Another building boasting the status of the Cultural Monument of the Czech Republic, the Liben Chateau is an impressive Baroque chateau located in the Prague neighborhood of Liben. It currently serves as the official seat of local authorities and it is also a popular place for weddings. The chateau is surrounded by vast, well-maintained parks.
Straznice Chateau
One of the most dominant landmarks of the picturesque South Moravian town of Straznice, the Straznice Chateau was originally a medieval castle that was built to protect the town from Hungarian and Turkish armies. These days, the Straznice Chateau is home to several cultural institutions, expositions and a library. The chateau is surrounded by an English landscape park and a unique plane tree alley.
Hradec nad Moravici Red Chateau
Located in the little Silesian town of Hradec nad Moravici, the Red Chateau is one of the two majestic chateaus that make the renowned Hradec nad Moravici Chateau Complex. Built in the 19th century for the noble Lichnovsky family, the Red Chateau is often described as the most fairytale-like chateau of the country, mostly because of the main gate that looks as if it was cut out from a Walt Disney movie.
Hradec nad Moravici White Chateau
The older of the two chateaus in Hradec nad Moravici, the White Chateau was built on what originally used to be a massive medieval castle from the 13th century. Throughout the centuries, the White Chateau underwent several reconstructions and it was not until the early 19th century, during the era of the noble Lichnowsky Family, when the building finally got its current appearance. Overlooking the picturesque Silesian landscape around the chateau, the White Tower is the most dominant landmark of the building, standing 40 m (131 ft) tall.
Chropyne Chateau
Built in the 17th century, the Chropyne Chateau is a beautiful Renaissance chateau found in the Moravian town of Chropyne. A part of the Museum of the Kromeriz Region, the chateau houses an impressive collection of ancient weapons and an exposition dedicated to the renowned Cubist painter Emil Filla who was born in the town. Just outside of the chateau, there is also the Chropyne Pond, a famous Natural National Monument.
Pruhonice Chateau
Located in the Pruhonice Park, a vast park in the western part of Prague that is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Pruhonice Chateau was originally built in the 14th century as a Gothic fortress. Throughout the centuries, the chateau has had a number of different appearances as well as owners. Since 2010, the chateau has been listed as a Cultural National Monument of the country. It´s currently managed by the Botanical Institute of the Czech Republic that has its seat at the chateau.
Velke Hostice Chateau
Located in the village of Velke Hostice, some 5 km outside of the Silesian town of Opava, the Velke Hostice Chateau was originally built in the Baroque architectural style but it was later reconstructed into a Classicist building. The interiors of the chateau are not open to the public but some parts of it can be accessed as they are home to a restaurant, a wine shop and a nursing home.
Kromeriz Chateau
The very origins of this majestic chateau dates back to the 13th century. The Kromeriz Chateau has a very long and rich history, as it, among others things, served as the principal residence of the bishops and archbishops of Olomouc. The chateau is surrounded by vast gardens and the whole chateau complex has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1998. The chateau complex is one of the most popular tourist attractions of the region and it has even been featured in several movies, including Milos Forman´s famous biographical drama Amadeus (1984).
Kravare Chateau
Situated in the little town of Kravare in the Silesian part of the Czech Republic, the Kravare Chateau is a majestic Baroque chateau whose origins date back to the 17th century. Surrounded by magnificent French parks, lush gardens and renowned golf courses, the chateau is a popular bike trip destination as it is one of the stops on one of the longest and most frequented bike lanes of the area.
I hope you enjoyed this special photo collection dedicated to Czech chateaus. All shots featured in this post were taken by me. When I get back to my homeland, I would like to compile a similar post that would be devoted to Czech castles so stay tuned for more ;)
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