zámek Lomnice nad Popelkou Chateau

Welcome to Lomnice over Cinderella. You are standing on the upper edge of Hus Square, and in front of your eyes there is an impressive chateau building, which dominates this place with its presence. Feel the atmosphere of peace and nobility radiating from his walls. This building is not just an ordinary house, but a living witness to the centuries that have taken place here. Behold her silhouette and try to imagine how her face changed over time, how the impenetrable fortress became an elegant mansion and finally the cultural heart of the whole city.

To understand what you're seeing right now, we need to go back deep into the past together until the 13th century. This is the very beginning of this place. There was no comfortable chateau at the time, but a medieval fortress was established here. It was a construction designed for defence, built with an emphasis on security and strategic advantage. The first actual mention of this place in the written sources appeared only in 1417. That's when the stormy events took place when Chief Hynek Jablonski conquered Lomnice over Cinderella. Hynek was not a common nobleman, he was a man of great standing who served himself King Wenceslas IV. Imagine that time when the fate of this place was decided in political and military combat.

Now pay attention to the very form of the construction you are currently observing. Even though the lock may seem like a single whole, it's actually a fascinating layer of different epoch. The real and fundamental breakthrough in the appearance of this building occurred in the mid-sixteenth century. This is the period of the Renaissance when the fortress began to gradually turn into a chateau. Here the character of the place began to change - from a purely defensive point it became a seat that was meant to emit beauty and prestige. Over time, especially in the eighteenth century, there were baroque modifications. These changes have given the construction another layer of elegance and monumentality that you can perceive in its lines today. When you look at the facade or the overall structure of the building, realize that every era has left its mark, every reconstruction has added a new story to this great history.

This chateau has been a home for centuries for important characters whose names belong to the history of this region. In his history, the fates of the families and individuals who have left their mark intersect. We can mention the family of Valdštejnů, namely Wilhelm Štepanický of Valdštejn and Jan Viktor de Valdštejn, who worked here. In these areas also Pavel Morzin and Rudolf Morzin, figures that were important for the life of the chateau. Let's not forget Ignatius Falge or Prince Karl Rohan. Each of these personalities contributed to the fact that the chateau was not just an empty building, but a place full of life, political decisions and social events. When you look at these walls, remember that you are surrounded by the legacy of the people who shaped the fate of this region.

You might find one interesting thing that links the past to the present. It's the incredible ability of this place to transform. From a place that was intended in the beginning to fight, to defend and to reflect enemies, it became a place that today serves to develop the human spirit and culture. The defense fort has become a cultural center. Today you will find a library where knowledge is established and rooms for concerts, where music is heard. This transformation from military point to place of art and education is one of the most beautiful stories this chateau tells.

Now I want to invite you to further explore. Allow yourself to drift through the atmosphere of this place and continue your search. Focus your attention on how history touches every corner of this space. Whether you decide against every step in the library or get swallowed up by music in concert rooms, believe me, the chateau in Lomnica nad Popelka still has many secrets that will be glad to reveal to you. We thank you for your journey through time and wish you a pleasant continuation in discovering this historic splendour.