Monuments to visit South Moravia

Lednice is home to one of the most surprising castles in the country. From the moment you arrive, you will be seduced by a mixture of very different tastes and eras, and one of the most beautiful and pleasant landscaped parks. From 1582 to 1945, the castle belonged to the Liechtenstein family, who made it their summer residence. The present appearance is due to the reconstruction (1848-1858) in Tudor style, designed by the architect Wingelmüller to compete with Hluboká nad Vltavou, the seat of the Schwarzenbergs, the rival family of the Liechtensteins in Bohemia. The Gothic fort and the Renaissance castle that stood here have disappeared as a result of these alterations, hiding the Baroque works of Fischer von Erlach. Inside, there are beautiful reception rooms with coffered ceilings overlaid with wooden sculptures.

The landscape parkis as interesting as the castle itself. It is dotted with pavilions, some of which are used for temporary exhibitions, and extends almost as far as Valtice Castle. The most popular walk is from the castle to the minaret (30 minutes). The latter can be reached by walking from island to island. River shuttles make the trip several times a day. There is also the possibility of taking a carriage through the park. Birds of prey shows are presented every day at noon and 2pm, a third one at 4:30pm only in July and August. The garden is so large that you can easily spend the whole day there.

From Zelný Square, it can be reached by taking the two streets leading north, Mečová or Radnická. The building grew around a medieval house from the 13th century and was consecrated as the town hall in 1343. It was expanded over the centuries, according to administrative needs and conflicts, until 1935, when the municipal administrative functions were relocated. The building is dominated by a beautiful Renaissance tower with a panoramic gallery, where you can contemplate the city. The entrance from Radnická Street is through a beautiful Gothic portal designed in 1510 by the Viennese sculptor Anton Pilgram. In the entrance corridor, you will see the "Brno Dragon" (Brněnský Drak) on the ceiling... this is actually an Amazonian crocodile, given to the city by Archduke Matyáš in 1608 and which, according to legend, colonized the city's waters. It has since become the mascot of Brno.

When you enter the tourist office through the main door of the old town hall, you will probably notice the twisted stone tower that adorns the Gothic portal. This is a mischief of the famous medieval architect Anton Pilgram, who was commissioned by the city of Brno to build the entrance to the town hall. But when the work was finished, the stingy notables refused to pay Pilgram. Pilgram decided to teach them a lesson by giving them a little surprise in the final version of their building..

As early as the 12th century, a castle was already standing in massive silhouette overlooking Valtice. Over the centuries, it was modified, transformed, to become at the beginning of the 18th century a monument of baroque architecture, due mainly to two architects: the Viennese Fischer von Erlach and the Italian Domenico Martinelli. C. Tencalla and J. Ospel also worked on this project. The first thing we see is the main courtyard with its statues of Hercules. The facade perfectly reflects the ideal of that time, with its order serving as a support for a more abundant expression where the sculpture is obviously not absent. The interior courtyard is not very well presented. The two beautiful sundials are noteworthy. The interior is extremely luxurious: walls covered with gold leaf, furniture from various periods, heavily decorated ceilings... So much so, that in its heyday, the place rivaled the imperial court in Vienna. The park is also magnificent, not to be missed. Its relief has been used to the maximum, which gives it this baroque aspect. The architect did not want to have a flat terrain, he kept these hills to have some hidden areas. A museum of torture takes place in the park. In the past, it was a room where vegetables from the garden were stored. Today, you can see all the different instruments of torture that existed at that time. Some of them were even used... Before leaving the castle, linger in the vinoteka.

Špilberk Hill, which rises to the west of the city centre, dominates the city without overwhelming it. Many visitors start by climbing the hill to get a bird's eye view of Brno before exploring the city. Although the slopes of Špilberk are now forested, they were once left bare to facilitate the defence of the fortress built on top. The first Gothic castle (enveloping type) dates from the 13th century. In the 15th century, the Luxembourg family ruled over the whole of Moravia from here. But there are few traces of this fortified residence. It was completely remodelled in the 18th and 19th centuries. Over the centuries, the site was attacked, without success, by the Hussites, the huge Swedish army (in 1645) and the Prussians. In 1805, Napoleon took possession of it without fighting, a few days before the Battle of Austerlitz. In 1809, Špilberk was taken again and its outer defence system dismantled. The fortress was later used as a prison and it is to this sad function that Špilberk still owes its reputation today. It was first used as a detention centre by the Austro-Hungarian Empire. It became the most famous prison of the empire and a symbol of the struggle of the various nations of the empire for independence. One of the most illustrious guests was the Italian poet Silvio Pellico, who wrote his collection of pamphlets De mes prisons.

The charming Telč Castle was the residence of the Dehradec lords (who acquired the site as early as 1339). Zachariáš of Hradec started the major renovation of the castle in the 16th century. For this remodeling, he called upon Italian master builders, who were recruited during his numerous trips to the countries of the arts. From the Gothic castle, the architects Antonio Vlach Baldassare Maggi preserved the structure, before creating the superb Renaissance residence that we contemplate today. The first thing you see is a beautiful central courtyard, lined with arcades, around which the various buildings are arranged. Notice the statues of Adam and Eve. Inside, there are many rooms, but you should especially admire the golden room and its wooden coffered ceiling decorated with numerous sculptures, the theater room decorated with mythological frescoes, the marble room or knights' room which houses an interesting collection of weapons (note the mineral marquetry on the floor and the richly decorated ceiling), the treasure room which is astonishing with its elaborate sgraffiti or the African room for a bit of exoticism with its safari trophies, which are nevertheless a bit macabre. The visit of the castle's cellars and catacombs will also delight children.

To the east of the castle , don't forget to visit the gardens, so quiet, surrounded by arcades. The park, on the opposite side, is home to a beautiful greenhouse. Around the castle are other gardens with ponds, ponds, tall trees and flowers. It is the local romantic stroll on summer evenings.

A very good idea of excursions from Brno. This castle is remarkable for its inner courtyard, a space surrounded by arcades (on three levels) very Italian, dating back to the 1570 s. Despite the numerous developments that followed, the castle retains its original Renaissance aspect. Inside, go to the large, so-called imperial room. Its decor of stucco and mural paintings is unique.

It crosses the river Oslava, which flows below the castle. It is one of the most beautiful stone bridges in the country (1737). Completely white, he is decorated with 20 statues of saints and saints.

History and architecture enthusiasts can visit the former Špilberk Castle gaols. In the cellars, which were built during the last phase of the construction of the complex, you will come across mannequins in 18th century costumes and instruments of torture, all illuminated by a dim light. We quickly understand the role of this fortress which was the main prison of the empire. One can imagine the oppressive power of the Austrians in the 19th century and the rediscovery of the place by the Gestapo.

Elegant baroque castle built by D. Martinelli with an influence from Rome. Paintings, sculptures and interiors were made during the 18th century. The castle has a gallery where works by H. Rigaud, H.-F. Füger and others are exhibited. On the second floor there is the museum of the Battle of Austerlitz. Don't miss the magnificent French and English gardens with beautiful statues by Matthias Bernard Braun.

Next to the church, from which it was quite distinct, the city tower was originally part of the city's fortifications. Partly destroyed by Hungarian troops in the 14th century, its solid foundations have allowed it to survive the centuries until today. Its vocation being no longer defensive, it has been reconverted in tourism and offers a panoramic view, at 35 m height, on the whole city and the region. Visit possible on appointment out of season.

Seen from the sky, this superb castle, one of the most beautiful representatives of the baroque style, evokes two "F" back to back, planted in the plain in the middle of a huge park. The castle appears gigantic, next to the small village. The main body, wings and inner courtyards are connected by several corridors. What strikes you at once, are the colors ochre and white or orange and white of the facade. These colors are remarkably well used to underline the floors and the openings.

A circuit allows you to visit a good part of the castle, composed of rooms of human size. On the first floor, you will discover the Roman baths as well as the Salla Terrana with its low vaults entirely covered with frescoes and a grid of green vegetation. The largest spaces are the most impressive: the dance hall with its flowery frescoes (accessed through a blue and white corridor decorated with Chinese motifs), the Chinese cabinet with its marquetry (32 different woods make up the parquet floor), the vaulted room known as the ancestors' room, the black salon with its massive furniture, the blue salon with its adorable little hidden bathroom. The stucco decorations are omnipresent, superb. In addition, one of the rooms of the castle has an amazing exhibition of pipes. Another one houses old musical instruments. The church of St. Margaret, which is an integral part of the castle, considerably enhances the silhouette of the whole. It dates from the 18th century.

The original Gothic castle disappeared during its neo-Renaissance reconstruction in the 19th century. Today, the castle has several interesting rooms, above all the impressive library with its 13,000 volumes. The building also houses a museum of regional folklore, in connection with the annual festival held there. Here you will find more than 400 instruments of the region's "popular" music. Reserve your seats in advance during the festival.

This imposing perched fortress is one of the best preserved in the country, a real architectural treasure built over 700 years... A must-see in the Czech Republic! Majestic Pernstein Castle... You can explore the many rooms - including the monumental Baroque Knights' Hall, the medieval dungeon, the kitchen, the stately rooms, etc. The whole building gives the impression of having been abandoned a few days before. Also worth a visit: the dungeons.

This summer residence of the Olomouc archbishops from the 13th century is the highlight of any visit to Kroměříž. Its Baroque style, beautifully enhanced by the neighboring gardens, the flower garden and the castle garden, sits elegantly in the heart of the city. In the course of its history, the residence was transformed into a monumentally designed four-winged castle by the Italian architects Lucchese and Tencalla, after being severely damaged by Swedish troops during the Thirty Years' War. It is dominated by an 84 m high tower and its rooms are more amazing than the others. Many of them underwent extensive restoration work after the damage inflicted by the fire of 1752, which ravaged much of the city. One of them, the Czar's Hall, was used by Alexander II of Russia for a meeting with the Austrian Emperor Franz Joseph in 1885. Another, the Constitution Hall, was the site of the first national assembly of Austria-Hungary during the 1848 Revolution. As for the library, it is a magical place with 90,000 books and a collection of globes. Above all, don't forget the Pinakothek and its exhaustive collection of Renaissance and Baroque paintings (including works by Titian, Van Dyck, Rubens and Brueghel): it is the second most important collection of paintings in the country. Like its adjoining garden, the castle has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1998.