Hrobka Metternichů v Plasích Church

Welcome to the Plasas. You have just stopped in front of one of the most important and precious monuments of this place. You stand before the tomb of the Metternich family, a place that carries the deep silence and seriousness that only this place can offer. While you're looking around, I believe you perceive the strange atmosphere of this cemetery, where history is not just a book entry, but a living presence that can be achieved by hand and sight. In front of you, there is a building that seems calm and dignified at first glance, but its face is the result of a fascinating transformation that combines two completely different epochs and two completely different worlds.

To understand why this building looks like this, we need to go back deep into the past. Imagine a time when this place was not a tomb but a living center of spiritual life. Originally there was a Gothic church of St. Wenceslas, which was part of an extensive monastery. However, the fateful break occurred in 1785, when the monastery in Plas was abolished. This event has changed everything. The building lost its original function and its fate became uncertain until it connected with the fate of one of Europe's most influential families. In 1826, a major reconstruction took place, which was intended to give the building a new, native character. That's when the original church became the final resting place for the Metternich family. This transformation was so deep that the original Gothic building became an empirical-style building that reflected the aesthetics of its time in its form and spirit.

Now that you're looking at the tomb, pay attention to its architecture. Notice how the building avoids the typical, heading towards the sky of Gothic verticality. During the Empire reconstruction, the original towers were removed, which gave the building its current, rather horizontal and balanced appearance. This change was deliberate, meant to create a space that did not act as a place of constant ascension to God, but as a place of dignified, quiet training and remembrance. Behind this architectural change were important creators of their time, among whom we name Josef Kranner and Peter Nobile. Their work in the Plas represents a fascinating dialogue between the old and the new.

If you decide to enter, prepare yourself for an experience that will take you to another space-time. The inner space of the tomb is characterized by the fact that it is glazed with valenas, which creates a sense of stability and monumentality. But the greatest treasure is hidden in the presbytery. Although the whole building appears to be the result of the nineteenth century, in the presbytarium it was possible to preserve something incredible - Gothic wall painting from the original building. It's like you found walls in a modern house that still whisper stories from another century. These paintings are a silent witness to the fact that the heart of the original Gothic church of St. Wenceslas is still beating under the Empire layer. It's a rare example of how history can layer without the older ones being completely erased.

However, this space is not only an architectural unique, it is mainly a place associated with big names. The tomb served as a home for the remains of members of the Metternich family, a family whose influence reached far beyond this region and the state. The most important personalities associated with this place include Chancellor Klement Václav Nepomuk Lothar Metternich. His name is written in gold in history, and this tomb is proof of his family continuity and importance. Even though the family was changing in later times, the tomb remained their fixed point. The last member of this family was only stored here in 1930, which means that the tomb was still a living place for family memory over the centuries. There are other figures like Ondřej Trojer and Jan Baptista Mathey who are all part of this silent society.

If you go through the interior, pay attention to details that indicate the wealth and religious devotion of this family. One of the most interesting items is the tumboid reliquary of St. Valentine's from 1828. This object is not only a religious artifact, but also a symbol of the family pride and gift that brought the Metternich family to this place. Imagine the precision of the work and the weight of the tradition this reliquary carries. It is another proof that the tomb was not just an empty building, but a richly equipped space to reflect the status and faith of those who rest here.

There is also one special thing that can impress a visitor. It's the invisible line between what you see and what happened here. The tomb is a unique example of changing the purpose of the construction. Most churches either remain churches or become something else, but there has been such a specific rebirth - from the public place of divine service has become a private, native settlement for eternity. This transformation from the church of St. Wenceslas to the family tomb is rare and gives this place a hint of mystery. It is as if the sacred space for the whole village has turned into an intimate monument to one particular line of people.

Now that you've met the curriculum of this place, I suggest you just let yourself be stopped for a while. Take a look at the facade details, feel the atmosphere of the surrounding cemetery and try to imagine the times when the first time there was a new empirical spirit. The Metternich tomb is not just a building, it is a chronicle of transformations that took place in the heart of the plasma.

Thank you for joining us on this short journey through history. Please continue your search and have this area fully relive. You can now move freely and continue to explore the surroundings. Goodbye.