Náhrobek Skrbenských Tombstone

Welcome to the village Hošťálkovy. You're standing in front of something that requires peace, patience and, above all, a attentive eye. Before your eyes lies two low marble sarcophagus that carry the weight of hundreds of years. At first glance, they may seem like two pieces of stone, but when you look at them, you start to see a story that was written in stone so that it never disappeared. Feel this atmosphere of silence and nobility that rules these monuments. They are witnesses of ancient times standing here while the world around them is constantly changing.

Let us return together to a deep past, namely 1686. Imagine the world of that time, the era of the Baroque, when art tried to express the deepest human feelings, faith and eternity. It was this year that these marble sarcophagus were formed. It was not just an ordinary task for craftsmen, but an effort to create a permanent monument for people who played an important role in the region at the time. This monument is not just a tomb, it is an expression of grandeur and an attempt to preserve the memory of the particular people who once lived and ruled here.

Now pay attention to the very form of these subjects. Look at these marble boards. There's something extraordinary about them that you must be interested in if you look at them with inner calm. These plates are not just straight or flat. Their shape is brilliantly designed to create the impression of an open book. It's as if someone wanted to say that the life of these people was like a book that was now opened before you to read. But this book will never close because its pages are carved into hard marble. Notice the details on the faces of these sarcophagus. You see these embossed images, these reliefs that are masterfully carved into the stone. It's subtle work that tells stories without a word. And right next to them, you'll see carved inscriptions. These inscriptions are the key to understanding who is resting here. They are words that have been cast out of stone to withstand wind, rain, and time.

So who were the people for whom this monument was created? The names you read here carry the weight of the old families. It's Christopher Bernhard Skrubenski from the Playhouse and his wife Apolena Bořitovsky from the Budch. These names are not just names, they are marks of land, tradition and history of this region. Christopher Bernard and Apolena were connected not only by marriage, but also by a common destiny and a common place they chose for their last rest. Their existence was part of a complex network of relationships and power that worked in Czech countries at the time. When you look at these sarcophagus, you look directly at their track in time.

You may now wonder what this monument has done to this day. It's fascinating that we can watch these marble creatures so clearly today. This monument has a very strong position. In 1972 it was recognised as an important cultural monument and was included in the Central List of Cultural Monuments of the Czech Republic. This means that its value has been officially recognised by the State and its protection has become an obligation. But history didn't stop in the last century. Even recently, this monument has been taken care of. In 2015 a thorough restaurant took place, thanks to which these marble boards and their fine details are again as visible and beautiful as they were probably at the time of their creation. This care allows us to see the baroque championship in its purest form.

There is one thing that might interest you, one little mystery or rather fascinating thought. Think about the shape of the open book. Why would anyone choose this shape for a tombstone? Books are carriers of wisdom, history and stories. By being shaped as open books, these sarcophagus become constantly read. Anyone who stops like you right now becomes a reader of this stone book. It's like these people want to stay in a conversation with people who don't come until hundreds of years later. It's a constant call from the past that encourages you to stop and think about what we're going to leave behind.

Now that you've looked at these details and sucked the atmosphere of this place, I suggest you continue your walk. Hošťálkovy has many other secrets and instructions waiting for your discovery. Let this experience of contact with the baroque past remain within you for a while. Thank you for taking the time to stop at this very headstone of Skrubenski. We wish you a wonderful journey and many other interesting experiences in the next survey of this beautiful region. Goodbye.