Jezuitská kolej v Telči School building

Welcome to one of the most beautiful cities in the Czech Republic, in the historic heart of Telč. Right now, standing here in the inner city circle, you have something extraordinary and very powerful ahead of you. Take a look at this vast, baroque entity that is right in front of your eyes. It's a Jesuit dorm. Feel the weight, the presence, and the incredible size that radiates from this building. This building is not just an ordinary house or a mere group of walls. It's a monumental architecture that carries walls full of ancient stories and human effort. This baroque complex is one of the largest urban buildings in the whole of Telč and only the local chateau can be compared with its large superiority. Feel the atmosphere of a place that dominates the whole neighborhood and has been determining the face of this city for centuries.

In order to really understand why this Baroque complex is so important and why it seems so impressive, we need to go back deep into the past together. Imagine half the 17th century. This was the time when new and important chapters began to be written in Telč. In a place where there were former simple, ordinary urban houses, this magnificent building began to be born. The whole process, which required a huge amount of work and planning, began in 1651 when the foundation stone of this building itself was laid. It wasn't just the beginning of the building, it was the beginning of a new era for the whole city. A space for spiritual life and study began to develop from ordinary urban buildings, which at the time meant a huge shift throughout the region.

Now pay attention to how this whole is arranged and what it consists of. Although it may seem like one big, continuous building to you, it's actually a very complex and rich Baroque complex. It consists of several important parts which form a harmonious and integrated whole together. Within this space you will find a convention that served as a place of being and everyday life, the Church of Name Jesus, which was the spiritual center of the whole place, and also the Convikt of Holy Angels. This convikt was built a little later, namely in 1688, and added another dimension and importance to the complex. This whole architecture is typical of its era, seeking greatness and creating a sense of stability and strength.

Every place that has survived for centuries has its heroes and characters that breathe in its life. Even though we don't know the names of the people who worked these stones themselves or who did the construction work, we know the personalities whose names are inseparably linked to this place. Here we can remember Františka Slavatova of Meggau, Vitus Scheffer, Adam Gilg or Kaspar Knitl. These people were part of this living organism that has been constantly evolving and changing here since the middle century. Their tracks, even though they are invisible today, are imprinted into the very spirit of this place.

But the history of this place isn't just about a quiet life in a monastery. History is often full of shock changes and unexpected twists. In 1773 a moment came that fundamentally changed the direction of life in these areas. The Jesuit Order was abolished and this place, which until then was dedicated to prayer, silence and study, had to find a new use. The building became barracks. Imagine the huge contrast that people had to experience back then. Instead of silence and spiritual search, soldiers' actions, rumbling of military life and strict rules of the military order began to be heard here. A spiritual sanctuary has become a military residence. This turn in history shows how much the fate of one building can change depending on the political and religious changes of the time.

But then came another important chapter that brought us a building, as you see it now. In 1906 extensive reconstruction took place, which gave the building its present form. This renewal was crucial so that this historical object could be fully integrated into the city's life in a new form. And what's most fascinating is how this historical object managed to adapt to modern times. Today, military life and monastery rituals no longer take place here, but the life of knowledge and education. The University Centre Telč, which is part of the Masaryk University, is now based in this Baroque complex. The place where scholars and clergymen once lived is now shaping the minds of students and serving science. It's an incredible bridge between the past and the future.

You are standing in front of a place that has survived centuries, which has been constantly changing from houses to monastery, from monastery to military barracks and from barracks to modern center of science. It's a place that carries all these layers of time. Let yourself be absorbed by this place, see its surroundings, feel the atmosphere of this historic heart of Telč and realize how much history is alive. I wish you a beautiful further walk around this city and other interesting experiences while discovering its secrets. Thank you for being with us.