Relikviář svatého Maura Reliquary

Welcome to Bečov over the heat. Right now, you are facing one of the most rare and fascinating objects that you can meet on the territory of our Calculation. In front of you is Relikviář svatého Maura. The first impression of this subject is usually the same among all visitors - it is a sense of amazement from extraordinary gloss and precision. Look at this golden object and perceive its nobility. You see before you a work that carries eight hundred years of history, faith and human destiny. It's a jewelry store in the purest sense of the word that lures you with its golden color and complexity of its execution.

Let us now go back many centuries together to understand how this treasure was born. The reliquary was established between 1225 and 1230. At that time, Europe was in the full bloom of Romanesque art, and it was from this period that this masterpiece came. However, it was not produced here, in our regions, but in the Rhine-Mosian region, which was at that time one of the most important centres of jewelry and metal processing in Europe. The entire object was created to order Bishop Gérard de Rumigny. Imagine the world back then, where such objects were not only ornaments, but served as bridges between the earthly world and the divine sphere. The reliquary was created for the Belgian monastery of St. John the Baptist and its primary purpose was to store the most sacred remains. Inside were stored relics of St. Maura, St. John the Baptist, Timothy and Apolinar. For the then religious and religious hierarchies, this box had an enormous spiritual value that far exceeded the price of gold itself.

Now pay attention to the details you see right in front of you. Although it may appear to be one solid gold object, on closer examination notice rich figural, embossed and decorative decoration. It is in these details that the genius of the unknown masters who made the reliquary is hiding. Watch how finely the figures and ornaments are worked out to decorate the surface. This embossed decoration is not just an aesthetic accessory, but it tells stories and symbolizes the faith of the time. Notice how light plays on golden surfaces and how details change when you move slightly. It is a fascinating example of the Romanesque style, where it combines robustness with incredible fineness of craftsmanship. It is thanks to this combination that the reliquary is considered the most important Romanesque jewel monument in the whole territory of the Czech Republic. If we were looking for something comparable in terms of value and importance, we would have to turn to our coronation jewels, behind which this very object stands in the hierarchy of Czech treasures.

But the history of this reliquary is full of dramatic twists and unexpected paths, which eventually brought it here, to Bečov above the heat. One of the key personalities associated with him was the noble Alfred de Beaufort-Spontin. In 1838 there was an event that changed the fate of this jewel - Alfred bought it for the price of two thousand and five hundred francs. At that time, the reliquary no longer served its original religious purpose in the Belgian monastery, but became part of the private collection of the noble family Beaufort-Spontin. Imagine how this precious object traveled across state lines to find refuge in Bekov. The Beaufort-Spontin family, including Friedrich de Beaufort-Spontina, became essentially guardians of this European heritage.

But the most exciting part of the story begins in the mid-20th century. 1945 was a period of chaos, war and uncertainty. It was in this dramatic year that it was decided that the reliquary must be protected from possible waste, theft or destruction. So he was secretly hidden. And here comes the moment that borders on an adventure novel. The reliquary was not hidden in the vault or in the remote cellar, but was located directly under the floor of the chapel at the castle Bečov nad Teplou. Imagine the silence and darkness in which this golden treasure lay for decades. While time passed over him, the regimes and generations changed, he remained forgotten in the dust and silence beneath the feet of the people who passed through the chapel without knowing that just a few centimetres below them lies one of Europe's greatest jewels.

This mystery lasted until 1985. It was this year that the reliquary was rediscovered by the Czech authorities. It was basically the rebirth of a monument that had been in the underworld for almost 40 years. Imagine the moment of surprise and joy when something so beautiful and precious came back after so long. This discovery caused a huge stir in professional circles and confirmed the incredible value of the object. In 1995, the reliquary was officially declared a national cultural monument of the Czech Republic, which finally recognised its status as an invaluable legacy, which we must protect together.

Now, if you look at the reliquary again, try to perceive not only its material beauty, but also all the layers of time that it carries. From the Rhine workshops of the 13th century, to the Belgian monasteries and aristocratic palaces, to the darkness beneath the floor of the Beèek Chapel. It's an object that survived wars, oblivion, and moving. It is a symbol of the resistance of beauty and art.

Now that you've learned of his extraordinary destinies, I suggest you observe him quietly for a while. Notice how it combines the faith of the Middle Ages with the desire for later generations for beauty and collecting. It's a real miracle that we have the opportunity to see him in that state today.

Thank you for the attention you have given to this extraordinary jewel. I hope you were interested in the story of St. Maura's reliquary and that you felt the depth of the history that is encoded in this golden object. Now invited to further explore the area of the castle and surroundings, where you will find other fascinating pieces of the past. I wish you a pleasant continuation of your journey with Bekov over the heat. Goodbye.