Medieval gothic czech castle fridlant. Friedland Castle - the guardian of the northern borders of the Czech Republic Friedland Czech Republic
What will happen if you combine two castles - an old Gothic fortress and quite new palace, dated to the 17th century, - in one complex? It turns out luxury castle Fridlant, once owned by one of the most powerful nobles in the Czech Republic - military commander Albrecht von Wallenstein. Interestingly, the castle is open permanent exhibition dedicated to Wallenstein. Here you can also admire a stunning collection of art paintings, among which there are real masterpieces made by Czech masters.
During a tour of the castle, visitors have the opportunity to see a selection of ancient weapons, pipes, porcelain and glass. In the children's room, pay attention to unusual toys of the 19th century.
With the area on which the castle stands is connected interesting legend. It is believed that the town where the castle subsequently arose was founded by a man named Zagvozd. He had seven sons, whom he singled out by allotment. They all built houses, and the resulting small settlement, Zagvozd, named Friedlant, which means “Keep the Earth” in German. This became a kind of covenant Zagvozd to his sons.
Before the castle became the property of Wallenstein, and then of the Cram-Gallas family, it belonged to many famous personalities, among whom was one of the Czech rulers - Premysl Otakar. All of them took care of its worthy maintenance, allocating colossal funds for the decoration of the inner chambers.
Fridlant Castle is also widely known for being considered the first palace complex in the Czech Republic, which opened its doors to ordinary visitors. This happened in 1801. And since then it is even difficult to imagine how many people have been under its arches.
About the castle
In May 2011, Frýdlant Castle celebrated its 210th anniversary. Exactly so many years he invites Czechs and foreign guests to plunge into the atmosphere of the Middle Ages. Frýdlant is one of the largest and most important ancient complexes in the north of the Czech Republic, and is also considered one of the oldest castle museums in Central Europe. The construction of the fortress began in the middle of the 13th century, and now the castle complex includes two main buildings: a medieval castle and a Renaissance castle.
About Frýdlant
The castle is located in the vicinity of the city of the same name Frýdlant, which is located on the banks of the Smeda River, so visitors to the castle will not have a problem finding a place to eat or spend the night. The city is filled historical monuments and just beautiful places for tourists. A must-see here is the dean of the castle church Search St. Cross, located on the right bank, which was completed in 1551 and then rebuilt several times. The city presents: the work of the sculptor Heinrich Christoph - tombs with statues of the apostles; the Neo-Renaissance Town Hall, built in 1893-1896 by the Viennese architect Franz Neumann, the Church of St. Mary Magdalene and many others. On weekends, festive performances with historical reenactments are often held on the castle grounds, when the inhabitants of the city in old folk costumes beat the arrival of the Duke of Wallenstein.
The history of the creation of Frýdlant Castle
Only since 1278 did the chronicles contain information about the owners of the castle. At this time, he passed into the hands of the ancient Bieberstein family, and thus formed final version fortress complex. Around 1558-1621 Friedlant took possession of the Redern family to continue the construction and development of the castle territory. Representatives of this ancient Czech family, being brave warriors and skilful farmers, turned out to be excellent builders and connoisseurs of art. As a result of their common work, a new chapel and a castle building in the Renaissance style appeared.
In 1622-1634, Friedlant Castle was ruled by the famous commander of the Thirty Years' War Albrecht von Wallenstein, Duke of Friedlan and Mecklenburg, Generalissimo. He bought the castle for 150,000 gold after the Battle of White Mountain.
After the assassination of Albrecht von Wallenstein in 1634, the castle was donated by the emperor to Gallas, and since 1757 belonged to Klam-Gallas, a hereditary nobleman who served in the diplomatic and military service at the imperial court - his descendants became the last owners of the castle until 1945, when Friedlant fell into state property.
The current state of Frýdlant Castle
Now the castle complex consists of a massive two-story building in the medieval style, a chapel and the younger brother of the "castle", made in the Renaissance style in the 16-17 centuries. The courtyard of the castle is surrounded by high brick walls, here and there there are large cylindrical towers. The last grandiose reconstruction of the castle, carried out in the 60s of the 19th century, affected the wing of the Castellane castle. AT recent times the castle is undergoing ongoing repairs: in winter, wooden floors, doors and linings were impregnated with wax; the roof of the chapel was restored; restored some of the tools from the expositions. The castle's stone steps and terraces will soon be fully restored.
In 1801, the castle turned into a museum with a unique collection and became open to the public thanks to the owner of the castle, Clam-Gallas.
During a tour of the castle, guests will be guided through the female and male halves of the castle, where they can get acquainted with all the halls and front rooms, find the treasures of the Gallas and Clam-Gallas galleries, and get into the habitat of the most famous owner of the castle, Albrecht von Wallenstein. The tour will end with a visit to the kitchen, striking in size. The Armory houses a large collection of weapons, in which you can find specimens made from the middle of the 12th century to the present day. It also presents not only military small arms, but also hunting weapons, which were used by the owners of the castle during the hunt.
Tourist Information
Frýdlant Castle is open to the public every day from the beginning of April to the end of October, except Mondays. If only a public holiday falls on a Monday, then the castle is open to everyone on this day.
Decoration of the Liberec Region
Going on a tour of the Czech Republic, tourists must include a visit to Liberec. They stay at the hotel for a couple of days, and walking along the narrow medieval streets, they get acquainted with the numerous monuments of history and architecture. Of particular interest is the Frýdlant Castle, located 25 kilometers from Liberec. It is not only an architectural monument of Liberec, but of the entire Czech Republic.
Frýdlant Castle has existed for more than seven centuries and is the most famous old castle Central Europe. It gives an incredible opportunity to every visitor to feel the atmosphere of the Middle Ages, to get acquainted with the life and culture of the nobility.
The location of the Frýdlant castle on a steep sixty-meter cliff above the river creates the impression of impregnability and fascinates everyone who saw this sight for the first time. The name of the castle comes from an old German word and means "keep the earth". According to a legend that lives in these places, a father lived on the banks of the river a long time ago, who bequeathed the land to his sons. It was they who built the first castle on this land.
History of the castle
The old fortress of the castle was built at the beginning of the 13th century, on the site of an old tower built in the 11th century, which served as a lighthouse. Frýdlant Castle was erected by a representative of the famous Rogovtsev family, and was a magnificent example of the Gothic style of early Renaissance architecture.
Chronicles have been preserved that speak of the first owners of the castle, who sold it to the royal family of Rudolf Bieberstein in 1278. This event was preceded by the completion of the construction of the main complex of buildings of the castle.
A few centuries later, Frýdlant Castle became the property of the Redern dynasty, who enlarged the territory of the castle and erected new buildings on it. During their administration of the castle, a renaissance palace and a small chapel were built.
From 1622 to 1634 the castle was owned by Albrecht Wallenstein, who was granted the title of Generalissimo and the title of Duke of Friedland by Emperor Ferdinand II. However, the new owner, being passionate about military affairs, rarely visited the castle, and then completely turned it into a warehouse for storing ammunition.
After the death of von Wallenstein in 1634, the castle passes into the possession of Gallas. And since the beginning of 1757, the castle has been managed by a hereditary nobleman, diplomat Clam-Gallas, whose descendants were the owners of the castle until the end of the Second World War.
Museum exhibits
In 1801, Clam-Gallas declared Frýdlant Castle a museum and opened the doors to visitors, which is still open today. Guests of the museum complex of Friedlant Castle can personally visit the main halls of the Renaissance palace, see the chambers of Albrecht von Wallenstein, and also view the treasury of the Gallas collections.
The armory of the castle is interesting, where eerie specimens of military weapons of the 12th century are presented. Informatively examine the male and female halves of the castle. Their interiors are strikingly different from each other. Men's - more severe and concise, and women's - replete with cozy carpets and upholstered furniture.
The kitchen of the castle impresses with its size and ancient utensils. Of interest is the children's room of Frýdlant Castle, which gives an idea of the toys used by the children of European aristocrats in the 19th century.
Castle architecture
The architecture of the castle is admired by modern builders and architects. It has retained its charm to the present day. The walls of Frýdlant Castle represent a separate unique architectural feature. Such incredibly beautiful stone painting, called “sgraffito”, can be seen on a few medieval facades.
Part of the building was reconstructed in the second half of the 19th century. Today, the renovation of the castle continues. The roof of the chapel and the waxed wooden floors were restored. The restoration of terraces and castle steps made of stone continues.
Friedland Castle is located in the north of our country, 25 km from the town, towering on a rock 60 meters high. Like others, it is an architectural masterpiece that never ceases to amaze with its originality. The date of its foundation is 1312, that is, two centuries older than the Liberec Castle, built in the 16th century. However, five years later it was captured and destroyed by the Lithuanians. Then Friedland returned to the control of the Teutonic Order. As a result, a fortress wall was erected around it, and the ditches were widened and deepened. The southwest and northwest crowned two powerful towers, and two small towers crowned the south side of the castle. The master's tower of the castle, that is, the donjon, which is the dominant feature of Friedland, has survived to this day.
The city gates in this fortress castle (12 km from it, for your information, the Libverda resort is located) were erected on the eastern and western sides, and served for defensive purposes. Moreover, the gates even had their own names. The western ones were called Domnautor and in 1895 they were bought for scrapping, while the western ones - Alletor - almost a century earlier, in 1793, were demolished. In the interval between these events, in 1862, the Mill Gate was also demolished - a double gate built on the north side at the beginning of the 16th century and having two different-sized towers. In the first half of the 1700s, the fortifications in Frinland completely lost their original relevance, and as a result, the ditches were partially filled up, and residential buildings were attached directly to the castle walls.
Arriving in Friedland, you will not only see the famous Jizera Mountains (the castle lies just under their crests), but also get acquainted with the sights of this medieval monastery itself. Here is a museum dedicated to such a famous person as Albrecht von Wallenstein and, in general, the history of the Thirty Years' War (during this war, it was the named commander who owned the castle). There is also an art gallery in the castle. It contains paintings by national masters of painting, such as Piotr Brandl, Vaclav Vavrynets Rainer, and others. As for the owners of Friedland, besides Wallenstein, there were quite a lot of them in the castle. Moreover, each of them - this is the Redern family, the Bieberstein family and even the Czech king - were true connoisseurs of beauty. Friedland Castle, built in the Renaissance style, was first opened to visitors in 1801. FROM German language its name translates as "keep the earth". The cult writer Franz Kafka wrote his novel The Castle under the impression of Friedland.
A great idea during your vacation in Prague can be a trip to Venice, where educational excursions are made directly from the Czech capital. This city on the water will enchant you with its canals, gondola rides, palaces, temples and bridges. In addition, during this trip you will have the opportunity to visit the city of Shakespeare's heroes in love, Romeo and Juliet, beautiful Verona. Your vacation with Prague, Venice and Verona will be unforgettable and admirable! More can be found in the section
Hische Castle is located in the village of the same name in the Czech Republic. The first mention of its existence dates back to 1169, but it is possible that the castle was built much earlier than this year. Over time, the castle was turned into a fortress, but Hishe has survived to our time in a modified form.
The current appearance of the castle was acquired by him in the second half of the 19th century. The author of perestroika was Ignatius Ulman. The institution moved from the Renaissance to the neo-Gothic style. In 1917, the famous Czech writer Karel Capek worked as an educator in this building. Later, the description of the castle is found in one of his works - "Krakatit".
In the period from 1839 to 1841, a brewery was built in Hische, but it practically did not function. In 2007, the production of high-quality beer was restored, and now all tourists who come on an excursion to the castle are offered a tasting.
Liberec Castle
The Liberec Castle is a vast neoclassical palace located near the historic city center at the Castle Square. The first buildings were erected in the 16th century, but in 1615 the castle burned down, only a tower with a bell tower survived from it, which has survived to this day. The castle, during its existence, was replaced by several aristocratic owners who expanded, repaired and completed it.
In the post-war period, the castle was bought by the StekloExport company, which invested a lot of money to restore it. AT last years valuable exhibits of the Czech and Slovak glass industry were exhibited in the castle. In addition, the castle began to be used as a concert and cultural venue of the city, as well as on special occasions.
Grabstein Castle
Grabštejn Castle is located in the Czech town of Grabštejn and was built in the 13th century in the Gothic style. Over the centuries, the architecture of the castle has undergone changes, and now we see the building of the XVI century in the Renaissance style.
The main building of the castle, made of white stone in the form of a rhombus, is a tower round shape with an original top in the form of a helmet, which offers a beautiful view of the surroundings. The attraction of the castle complex is the 16th-century chapel of St. Barbara, which has preserved original frescoes and heraldic motifs. The park around the castle was created in the Gothic and Renaissance style and was restored at the beginning of the 19th century.
Grabstein Castle passed from one owner to another, until 1945, when it was confiscated by the state. Now in the restored castle, which was opened in 1993 for tourists, you can see interesting interiors dedicated to various historical figures and periods of history. In the basement of the castle there are exhibitions that introduce visitors to local crafts, and an old forge. Grabstein Castle is included in the list of national monuments of the country.
Castle Bezdez
Bezdez Castle, with a large tower, about 40 meters high, has a pronounced Gothic style. This architectural monument is located 20 kilometers southeast of Czech city Czech Lipa.
The castle was erected by order of the Czech king Přemysl II Otakar, its construction lasted from 1264 to 1278. However, the king never lived to see the completion of the work - he died during the battle on the Moravian field. Built according to all canons fortifications At that time, Bezdez Castle successfully protected the lands of Czech kings from the invasion of enemies, both internal, during the Hussite wars, and external, until the middle of the 17th century, was not captured and partially destroyed by the Swedes during the Thirty Years' War.
In 1621, the castle was donated to the Benedictines by Albrecht von Wallenstein, and in 1666 the monks of the order transferred here from the Prague residence a copy of the Black Madonna from the Spanish Montserrat consecrated in Rome. Bezdez Castle becomes a place of pilgrimage, with up to 40,000 believers visiting it every year. In 1785, the Prussian troops captured the castle, and the further abolition of the monastery became the main reason for the desolation and further destruction of the walls and main buildings of the castle.
Only in 1932, a descendant of the former owners of the castle, Karl Wallenstein, together with the tourist club of Vartenberk, redeems the ruins of the family estate for a symbolic sum of 2,000 crowns. Currently, the top of the mountain is crowned by the surviving parts of the castle, two towers 30 and 45 meters high and a Gothic chapel. Work to restore this architectural monument The Czech Republic are being carried out to this day.
Rogozec Castle
Rogozec Castle is located in the district of the same name in Turnov. The castle was founded in 1280 by the Markvartitz family and was originally a fortress.
From the second half of the 14th century, the fortress belonged to Markvart from Vartemberk, who quite often clashed with his neighbors. Each time it ended with Markvart attacking the offenders, unleashing futile wars. King Wenceslas IV did not like this, and he - by siege - took away the castle from Markvart. Until 1422, Rogozec belonged to the king. After the castle changed several more owners.
The castle acquired its current appearance in the 19th century during a major restoration. Now Rogozec is open to tourists.
Friedland Castle
Friedland Castle skillfully combines two architectural styles - Gothic and Renaissance. The castle was built in the thirteenth century at an important strategic position - the intersection of two trade routes. Accordingly, the main function of the castle was to protect this route from robbers and robbers.
In 1622, the famous commander Albrecht Waldstein took possession of Fridlan Castle. During the Thirty Years' War, the castle had to engage in battles more than once - the Swedish troops tried more than once to capture the powerful fortification.
Today Friedland Castle is a museum and is open to everyone. During the tours, visitors will be invited to get acquainted with the collections of antique furniture, weapons, paintings and books from the 16th and 17th centuries.
Castle Lemberk
Lemberk Castle is located in the town of Jablon in Podjestedy, in the northern part of the Czech Republic. The architecture, repeatedly rebuilt, the castle contains elements of Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque and Classicism.
The castle dates back to 1241, when the influential feudal lord Havel Markvartits built the Levenberk fortress, later the name was shortened to Lemberk. The castle was also the family home of several generations of Markvartits, until in 1401 the castle was captured by their distant relative, Jan Vertenberk. In 1427 the castle was sacked during the Hussite uprising. In the 16th century, the castle repeatedly changed owners, introducing new elements into its appearance. Originally built in the Gothic style, the fortress gradually acquired the features of a Renaissance castle.
During the Seven Years' War, the castle housed a military hospital, and after its completion, the estate was empty for some time.
From 1726 until the end of World War II, the castle belonged to the Clam-Gallas family. After the war, the castle was nationalized and turned into a museum. To date, the full-scale reconstruction of the castle, which began in 1979, continues. Exhibitions and regular tours are held on the territory of the castle.
Sights of Liberec
