Hřbitovní kaple s hrobkou Thun-Hohensteinů Chapel
The Thun-Hohenstein tomb is a funeral chapel in the northeast part of the Choltice cemetery. The construction was initiated by Theodor z Thun-Hohensteinu, owner of the Choltic Grand Property, and the architect became František Schmoranz starší, builder and creator of many important buildings of his time including the Chotkov tomb in Valtířov, reconstruction of the castle Žlebí or reconstruction of the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit in Hradec Králové. The chapel was built in the New Romanesque style between 1872 and 1873 with costs of 20 878 gold and 19 tailors.
The House of Thun-Hohensteins has ruled the Choltics of the теритorii since 1623, when Kryštof Šimon Thun acquired confiscated property and then, after being promoted to the state of the Reichsdam in 1629, wrote with a home from Hohenstein. At the turn of the 17th and 18th centuries, the family rebuilt the Choltic Chateau itself. By building the tomb, the family responded to the Josephine reforms of 1787, which prohibited burial in churches and city cemeteries. That is why the cemetery was founded northeast of the village in that year and the original family tomb died there, replaced by a marble cross from 1875.
Architecturally, it is a brick, rectangular structure of the basilical type, 14.3 times 13.3 meters, where the middle ship exceeds the side boats. The Neo-Romanesque character is underlined by corner rustic lizens that divide the walls and the arches that circulate under the main ledge. The southwest facade dominates a large portal, which consists of a rectangular entrance set in a semi-rounded, double-spaced portal with columns carrying decorated archivolts. In the tympanone there is a window with a circular pitch in three leaf fields, and above the entrance there is a plastically developed family coat of arms. Vertical elements of the facade close the shield with a blind gallery of columns with decorated headers. The right-hand conclusion is illuminated by a large rectangular window with a sieve and stained glass with plant motifs and the figure of Jesus Christ. The dominance of the roof is in the middle of a standing sandbox with an octave lantern. The roof originally covered with shale is now of a metal saddle type.
The chapel hosted the remains of 21 members of the genus. The first to be buried here in 1874 was Theresa of Thun-Hohenstein, among the last Leopold Thun-Hohenstein, which was 1944. The tomb included the remains transferred from the original cemetery tomb. Around 2006, the original portal posts were removed from poor condition and temporarily stored in the chapel interior. Today, the monument, which is part of the cemetery chapel and is protected by the state, is located in the property of the city Choltice and is not accessible to the public.
Then and now
Drag the slider to compare how the landmark may have looked when it was built with the view today.
The historical appearance on the left is an AI-generated visualisation and serves as inspiration only.
Historical milestones
- 1872
- Opening of the cemetery chapel with tomb.
- 1874
- The first burial in the new tomb, the remains of Theresa from Thun-Hohenstein.
- 1944
- Last funeral of a member of the family, Leopold Thun-Hohenstein.
Architectural development
The construction is walled, basilical type with higher middle boat and lower side boats. It is characterized by new Romanesque elements, such as rustic lizens, arch molds and a semi-circle arched portal. The original shale roof was later replaced by a tin cover.
Historical events
1623: Obtaining the choltic manor of the Thun-Hohenstein family. 1872- 1873: Construction of a new tomb. 1945: Confiscation of the property of the genus on the basis of the Beneš Decrees.
Owners
Rod Thun-Hohenstein (1623-1945), then state, now town with Choltice.
Points of interest
- The building of the chapel was initiated by the owner of the choltic large estate Theodor z Thun-Hohensteinu and its architect was František Schmoranz starší. - The construction of the chapel in the New Romanesque style took place between 1872 and 1873 and cost 20 878 gold and 19 tailors. The family built the tomb in response to the 1787 Yosefin reforms that banned burial in churches and city cemeteries. - A total of 21 members of the family were buried in the chapel, and the first funeral took place in 1874 and the last in 1944. - The monument is in the property of the city Choltice and is not accessible to the public.
Guide
This guide is narrated by a synthetic voice generated by artificial intelligence.
Show guide text
This text was created by artificial intelligence and has not been editorially reviewed. It may contain inaccuracies.
On the northeastern edge of the cemetery in Cholticích on the Pardubice district stands a burial chapel of the Thun-Hohenstein noble family. The family owned Choltický zámek and held Choltice from the year 1623, when Christopher Simon Thun acquired the confiscated property. From his elevation to the rank of Imperial Count in 1629, he was known by the title from Hohenstein.
The cemetery was established in 1787. The Josephian reforms prohibited burials in churches and within villages. In the middle of the new cemetery, the original Thun burial vault was set up, and on its site today stands a marble cross from 1875.
The new chapel with a vault was built in the years 1872 to 1873, when the large estate was owned by Theodor from Thun-Hohenstein. It was designed by architect František Schmoranz the Elder. He is also the author of the Chotkovská hrobka in Valtířov and the reconstruction of Žleby castle. He also participated in the reconstruction of the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit in Hradec Králové. The construction cost twenty thousand eight hundred and seventy eight gulden and nineteen kreuzer.
The chapel is a Romanesque Revival brick structure of a basilica. It has a higher central nave and lower, shorter side aisles. The floor plan measures fourteen point three by thirteen point three meters. Stone rusticated pilasters divide the walls, and under the cornices an arched molding runs around.
The main facade faces the southwest. The entrance is set into a large semicircular portal, which is stepped twice. The portal was decorated with columns featuring a spiral motif. Around 2006, however, they fell off and today are temporarily stored inside the chapel. In the tympanum is a window with a rose tracery. Above the portal is a sculptured coat of arms of the family, and in the gable is a blind gallery of columns with cubic capitals. A large window with stained glass illuminates the rectangular end of the chapel. The stained glass features plant motifs and a figure of Jesus Christ. The roof was originally slate, today it is sheet metal. In the middle rises a sanctus bell turret with an eight-sided lantern.
In the vault rest a total of twenty-one members of the Count's family. This includes remains transferred from the original vault. The first to be buried there in 1874 was Theresa from Thun-Hohenstein. Among the last to rest there was Leopold Thun-Hohenstein, who died in 1944. During the war he accepted Reich citizenship and joined the Nazi party. After the war, the property of his family branch was confiscated under the Beneš Decrees. His son Berchthold Adam, born in Cholticích in 1939, attempted to restitute the property after the Velvet Revolution. His mother and brother were not buried in the vault until after the Second World War.
Tips for visitors
To visit, choose a sunny morning when the light highlights the new Romanesque details of the facade and surrounding cemetery greenery. Take with you comfortable shoes to move on the premises and the camera, with the best pictures of the chapel taken from the streets between the graves, which offer interesting compositions with the surrounding buildings of the morgue and the tomb house. In the immediate vicinity of the monument, do not miss the tour of the Choltic Chateau, which was the historical residence of the genus. For families with children the location is suitable as a quiet walk with an educational overlap into the history of the region, but we recommend taking care of the piety character of the place.
Frequently asked questions
Can the monument be visited?
Religious buildings are usually open mainly during services; at other times a visit is normally arranged with the parish or the operator. We have not verified specific times.
Where is the monument?
Location: č.p. 112, Choltice, Pardubický kraj. The map on this page shows the exact spot.
Why is the monument protected?
It is listed in the Central List of Cultural Monuments of the Czech Republic as a cultural monument (register no. 21871/6-2085).
For kids
Imagine trees filled with green leaves, which wave under a rainy cloud, and before us, an ancient cemetery with one very special chapel. This chapel is like a mysterious den full of historical stories and stands in Choltice, where more than 154 years ago the first stone entered the country.
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Nearby
The cemetery area is complemented by two stylishly identical small buildings of the morgue and the tomb house. In the vicinity there is a Choltic chateau, which in the past was a family seat.
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Trips and activities nearby
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Choltic chateau Type: Historical building, mansion This building is a key context for visiting the cemetery, as the Thun-Hohenstein nobility, whose tomb is the main destination of the route, was housed here. The tour of the chateau allows you to understand the social and historical position of the family, which affected the development of the whole village and its surroundings.
Hřbitovní kaple s hrobkou Thun-Hohensteinů Type: Memorial-protected building, tomb This is the main point of your journey where you can learn about the architectural processing of the family tomb. The chapel serves as a dignified resting place for members of the noble family and offers a view of the specific elements of the funeral architecture of the era.
Marnice Type: Small sacral or utility construction This stylishly identical building complements the overall appearance of the cemetery area and demonstrates a unified architectural intention. Visitors will appreciate the harmony between the various elements, which together form a coherent whole with the chapel and the tomb house.
House tombstone Type: Small residential building It completes a trio of stylishly unified objects in the cemetery and provides an interesting view of the daily background of the care of the burial grounds in the past. Together with the morgue and the chapel, it creates a unique file that is rare in its preservation and stylistic consistency.
The route is designed so that the visitor first gets a historical context in the chateau, then switches to the main destination of the chapel with the tomb, and finally looks at the additional buildings of the morgue and the tomb house in the immediate vicinity. All points lie in a close neighbourhood, allowing comfortable walking to explore the premises without the need for longer movements.
Seasonal recommendations
Spring brings a sense of renewal around the chapel, when fresh green and flowering flowers create a fresh contrast to the historic stone piece. The morning light is delicate and ideal for observing details of the tomb in a quiet atmosphere. For visiting it is best to choose the morning hours when the air is the cleanest. Prepare layered clothes to protect you from changing spring temperatures.
In the summer months the atmosphere of the tomb is famous and alive, while the shadows of surrounding vegetation offer a pleasant shelter from the heat. For longer days, you can visit the memory later, but in the main summer season I recommend arriving early in the morning to avoid any crowds. Dress lightly and do not forget to protect yourself from direct sun.
Autumn is a period of melancholy and calm for this location, where golden leaves and morning fog give the place a deep, nostalgic touch. The low sun in the afternoon beautifully highlights the architecture structure. It is advisable to wear firmer shoes because of the moist surface of the earth and a warmer jacket to prepare you for cooler wind waves.
Winter in Chotlice is very steep and monumental in the chapel, especially in the period of frost or snow, when there is an unbridled silence. Due to short days and possible shorter opening times, it is best to plan a visit around noon to use the maximum amount of daylight. The need is very warm and wind-resistant clothes to make the tour pleasant.
Visualizations and artistic views
The visualisations are generated by artificial intelligence and serve as inspiration.
Photos from the area
Real photos taken near the monument
Zdroj a licence jsou uvedeny u každého snímku.
Atmosphere of the place
This atmospheric visualisation of the place and period was generated by artificial intelligence. It is not real footage of the location.
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Sources and literature
Photos: Ing.Jan Mann / CC BY-SA 4.0 — Wikimedia Commons. The author and licence also appear when you hover over the image.
Faktickým podkladem tohoto textu byl článek na Wikipedii, jehož autory jsou přispěvatelé Wikipedie. Článek je dostupný pod licencí CC BY-SA 4.0.
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