Hřbitovní kaple s hrobkou Thun-Hohensteinů Chapel

Welcome to Choltice. Stop for a moment, take a breath and feel the silence of this place. Right now, you're standing in the northeast part of the local cemetery, and before you, there's a cemetery chapel with a tomb of the Thun-Hohenstein family. It's a building that tells the story of power, tradition and fleeting time by its very presence. Look at its silhouette and perceive the atmosphere that radiates from it. This chapel is not just a simple religious building, but a deeply personal resting place for one of the distinguished noble families, which has been linked to the surroundings of Choltic for centuries.

Let us now return together in time more than 150 years ago. At the time, in 1872, this building was basically a novelty. The whole project was initiated by the owner of the Choltic Great Estate, Theodor z Thun-Hohensteinu. The Thun-Hohenstein family had owned the estate since 1623, so their bond with this country was very strong and deep. Theodore wanted to create a dignified family burial ground that would serve as a place of eternal sleep for generations of his ancestors and followers. In order to implement this project he invited the renowned architect František Schmoranz the elder. Construction work was very rapid, between 1872 and 1873, and the result was this impressive object that you see before you.

Now pay attention to the architecture itself. If you look at the facade and the overall design of the construction, you will notice that architect Schmoranz has chosen the novel style. It's a style that at that time returned admiration to the monumental forms of the early Middle Ages. The chapel is designed as a walled basilical building. Note the rich New Romanesque curds that decorate the walls and details of the building. It is these elements that give the construction its specific character and sense of stability and timeliness. Look at the line of the roof and the rhythm of the windows that are typical of this architectural direction. The whole object seems sparsely but at the same time very noble, which exactly matched the status of the family for which the chapel was built.

When you're standing in front of this tomb, think about the people associated with it. The Thun-Hohenstein family has left a deep mark in the history of the region. Among the names that bind this place and the manor, we will find, for example, Christopher Simon Thun or Berchthold Adam Thun-Hohenstein. They were people who formed the landscape, the administration, and the culture of this region. The chapel itself became a silent witness to family tragedies and celebrations. The first funeral in this new tomb took place shortly after the construction was completed, in 1874, when the remains of Theresa from Thun-Hohenstein were stored here. Since then, members of the family have rested here until the last funeral of the family member, Leopold Thun-Hohenstein, took place in 1944. It is fascinating to think that this chapel accompanied the family during a period of massive social change, from the peaks of the Austrian-Hungarian monarchy to the dramatic events of World War II.

Perhaps you are now wondering why the chapel was built in this very form and at this time. There is one very interesting detail that brings us into a broader historical context. The construction of the chapel was in some sense a response to the reforms of the emperor Joseph. Josefinism has brought strict rules about funerals, especially for sanitary reasons, and has prohibited funerals within churches or city centres. The nobility, which was used to representative tombs in the sacral spaces, had to seek new solutions. The Thun-Hohenstein family thus decided to build their own private and dignified burial ground right here in the cemetery, retaining the tradition of the birthplace in accordance with the new laws.

And if you're interested in numbers, I've prepared a curiosity for you. At the time, the construction was not as we know today. Everything was carefully calculated. The whole building of the chapel cost exactly 20 878 gold and 19 tailors. When you realize the value of the gold back then, you will find that it was a huge investment to ensure that the tomb served for centuries and remained a symbol of family pride. There's something fascinating about it that even after so long, we know the exact amount except for the last tailor.

Now that you know the story of the creation, the architecture and the fate of the people who rest here, I suggest you forget the facts and just go around the building. Feel how light breaks on the new-Romanesque details and how the chapel fits into the landscape of the Choltic Cemetery. It's a place where history meets silence and where we can feel the continuity of time.

Thank you for accompanying me to this brief interpretation. I hope this visit to Thun-Hohenstein's tomb has brought you new views of the history of this place. Now invited to further explore the cemetery and around Choltic, where you will have many other hidden stories. I wish you a peaceful and inspiring continuation of your journey. Goodbye.