VALTICE CASTLE (STÁTNÍ ZÁMEK)

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.