Zámek Ratměřice Chateau

Welcome to Ratmetry Chateau. You're standing right where history meets peace and harmony. Before you start your journey and move on, stop for a moment and see what's right in front of you. Look at this building that stands before your eyes. Her face is balanced, calm, and you have a sense of order and stability. Feel the atmosphere surrounding you. It is not just an ordinary building made of stones and mortar, but a living witness for many years that have passed by here, and many people who have been here looking for their home and their place in the world. This building has traces of a variety of times that have been gradually changing here like waves at sea.

To understand what you're seeing right now, we need to go back deep into the past together. This whole story line begins at the beginning of the eighteenth century. At that time, however, the chateau did not look as you see it now. It was originally built in Baroque style. The Baroque is a style that carries movement, richness and certain drama, but the chateau Ratměřice had a completely different soul. At that time, the chateau was the property of the Kořenští z Terešova family. They were important people who built their background here. For example, Václav František Kořenský or Jan Antonín Lukáš Kořenský were present in these areas. For them, this chateau was a symbol of their position and family residence, which was intended to reflect their importance in the then society.

Now look at the current appearance of the building. Notice how her lines seem to be brighter and how there is a certain rigour associated with elegance. This change you see wasn't random. The chateau has undergone a fundamental transformation from baroque style to contemporary classical appearance. This transition was the result of the influence of several major families that lived here. One of the most important moments in the history of this place was the year one thousand eight hundred fifty-three. In this year Otto Ferdinand Chotek decided on a large reconstruction which fundamentally changed the face of the entire mansion. It was thanks to his decision that the chateau gained its classical character today. Otto Ferdinand Chotek was a man who saw not only home in this place, but also space for beauty, and therefore decided to establish a park that now surrounds you and complements the architecture of the building.

Note how the architecture of the chateau connects to the surrounding nature. The Classicist style you see here places great emphasis on consistency and balance, which perfectly matches the calm that brings the park. Although we do not know the names of the particular architects who proposed these changes, their work is evident in every detail you perceive. Another important figure in this transformation was Countess Henrietta Chotková of Chotkov and Private. It is she who contributed to the chateau being rebuilt into this beautiful classical style, which today so deeply affects every visitor.

When you look at these walls, think of all the people who lived here who left their mark. From the family of Kořenský to the barons of Sterndhal to the famous House of Chotek. Each of these family lines has brought something of its own to Ratmejc. The chateau was not only a static place, but a constantly evolving entity that changed along with the tastes and visions of its owners. It's a fascinating chain of events where one era gradually retreats another, but it follows on.

You may now wonder what is the greatest mystery in this place or the most interesting question. It is not a hidden passage or a forgotten treasure, but rather the constant transformation of the very essence of the place. How is it that one building can perfectly accept a completely different style? How did baroque richness and movement translate into a calm and balanced form of classicism? It's a fascinating dance of styles and flavors that has been taking place for centuries. This chateau is like a book that has every chapter written in different letters, and yet it makes up one complete story.

We now invite you to further explore. Continue to walk, perceive the atmosphere of this place and look at the lock from different angles. Every look, every step in the park can reveal a new detail or a new feeling. Thank you for spending this moment with us and for choosing to listen to the story of Ratměřice Chateau. We wish you a pleasant time on your next tour.