Arcibiskupský zámek Kroměříž Chateau

Archbishop's Chateau in Kroměříži is one of the most important sights of the Moravian region. Together with the adjoining Podzámecká Garden and nearby Flower Gardens, they form a unique cultural complex, which since 1995 bears the status of national cultural monument and has since 1998 been registered as the UNESCO Charter of Natural and Cultural Heritage. Today, the National Monument Institute is located there and its collections are managed by the Archdiocese Museum Olomouc.

The history of the chateau goes far back. In 1110, Olomouc Bishop Jan II bought the market settlement Kroměříž, which thus became part of the property of Olomouc Bishop. When Bishop Bruno of Schauenburg Kroměříž promoted the city at the end of the 13th century and established the administration of the bishop's affairs, he put a Gothic chateau in place of today's chateau. During the Renaissance for Bishop Stanislav I. Thurzy (1496- 1554), this chateau was converted into a Renaissance chateau.

But the Thirty Years' War brought destruction and destruction. In 1643, Kroměříž was conquered and destroyed by the Swedish forces of General Lennart Torstenson. The restoration came only under the direction of Bishop Karl II of Lichtensteinu-Castelcorn (1665- 1694), which had the chateau built today according to the projects of imperial court architects Filibert Lucchese and Giovanni Pietro Tencalla. Катастrof brought back fires: in 1752, a massive fire broke out in the city, destroying dozens of houses and severely damaging the second floor and chateau interiors. The reconstruction took 20 years and was completed for Bishop Hamilton. In 1848-1849 there was a meeting of the Constitutional Reich Assembly of the Austrian Nations, which added political weight to the chateau.

The 20th century brought further trials. In the last days of World War II, the tower was set on fire by retreating German troops, but the Kroměříž citizens put out the fire and the tower was reconstructed in 1947-1948. Most recently, in 2024, a major reconstruction for nearly CZK 250 million was completed after five years, during which a new safety and fire-fighting equipment was restored, and selected interiors including the House Hall were restored.

The chateau is an example of an extraordinary Baroque building. Its dominance is 84 metres tall tower with four-sided prism defensive tower - the rest of the original bishop's chateau. In the summer of 1768, the tower was finally repaired and covered with copper. 206 stairs lead to its top. The inner spaces are hierarchized: the ground floor was dedicated to economic purposes, the second floor served representation, the third floor highlighted the bishop's secular and official power. The romantic Podzámecká Garden is attached to the chateau and the Baroque Flower Garden with geometric construction is situated nearby, both created under Bishop Charles II.

Today both floors of the chateau, tower and sala terrena are open to the public. The chateau hides rich collections of paintings, books and music with roots in a long collecting tradition. It is not only a unique historical object, but also a living research centre and an indispensable part of Moravian cultural heritage.