Friedland castle how to get from prague. Friedland Castle is the guardian of the northern borders of the Czech Republic. Decoration of the Liberec Region
About the castle
In May 2011, Frýdlant Castle celebrated its 210th anniversary. Exactly so many years he invites Czechs and foreign guests to plunge into the atmosphere of the Middle Ages. Frýdlant is one of the largest and most important ancient complexes in the north of the Czech Republic, and is also considered one of the oldest castle museums in Central Europe. The construction of the fortress began in the middle of the 13th century, and now the castle complex includes two main buildings: a medieval castle and a Renaissance castle.
About Frýdlant
The castle is located in the vicinity of the city of the same name Frýdlant, which is located on the banks of the Smeda River, so visitors to the castle will not have a problem finding a place to eat or spend the night. The city is filled with historical monuments and simply beautiful places for tourists. A must-see here is the dean of the castle church Search St. Cross, located on the right bank, which was completed in 1551 and then rebuilt several times. The city presents: the work of the sculptor Heinrich Christoph - tombs with statues of the apostles; the Neo-Renaissance Town Hall, built in 1893-1896 by the Viennese architect Franz Neumann, the Church of St. Mary Magdalene and many others. On weekends, festive performances with historical reenactments are often held on the castle grounds, when the inhabitants of the city in old folk costumes beat the arrival of the Duke of Wallenstein.
The history of the creation of Frýdlant Castle
Only since 1278 did the chronicles contain information about the owners of the castle. At this time, it passed into the hands of the ancient Biberstein family, and thus the final version of the fortress complex was formed. Around 1558-1621 Friedlant took possession of the Redern family to continue the construction and development of the castle territory. Representatives of this ancient Czech family, being brave warriors and skilful farmers, turned out to be excellent builders and connoisseurs of art. As a result of their common work, a new chapel and a castle building in the Renaissance style appeared.
In 1622-1634, Friedlant Castle was ruled by the famous commander of the Thirty Years' War Albrecht von Wallenstein, Duke of Friedlan and Mecklenburg, Generalissimo. He bought the castle for 150,000 gold after the Battle of White Mountain.
After the assassination of Albrecht von Wallenstein in 1634, the castle was donated by the emperor to Gallas, and since 1757 belonged to Klam-Gallas, a hereditary nobleman who served in the diplomatic and military service at the imperial court - his descendants became the last owners of the castle until 1945, when Friedlant fell into state property.
The current state of Frýdlant Castle
Now the castle complex consists of a massive two-story building in the medieval style, a chapel and the younger brother of the "castle", made in the Renaissance style in the 16-17 centuries. The courtyard of the castle is surrounded by high brick walls, here and there there are large cylindrical towers. The last grandiose reconstruction of the castle, carried out in the 60s of the 19th century, affected the wing of the Castellane castle. Recently, the castle has been undergoing ongoing repairs: in winter, wooden floors, doors and linings were impregnated with wax; the roof of the chapel was restored; restored some of the tools from the expositions. The castle's stone steps and terraces will soon be fully restored.
In 1801, the castle turned into a museum with a unique collection and became open to the public thanks to the owner of the castle, Clam-Gallas.
During a tour of the castle, guests will be guided through the female and male halves of the castle, where they can get acquainted with all the halls and front rooms, find the treasures of the Gallas and Clam-Gallas galleries, and get into the habitat of the most famous owner of the castle, Albrecht von Wallenstein. The tour will end with a visit to the kitchen, striking in size. The Armory houses a large collection of weapons, in which you can find specimens made from the middle of the 12th century to the present day. It also presents not only military small arms, but also hunting weapons, which were used by the owners of the castle during the hunt.
Tourist information
Frýdlant Castle is open to the public every day from the beginning of April to the end of October, except Mondays. If only a public holiday falls on a Monday, then the castle is open to everyone on this day.
Once upon a time, in a century that way at 11, a man named Zagvozd lived in these parts. He had seven sons. When the children grew up, the father gave each of them a plot along the Smeda River. This is how a village called Friedland arose, which means “keep the land” in German. The brothers carried out their father's orders as best they could by building a large tower 50 meters high. Every night they kindled a fire on the roof, which served as a beacon for travelers who often passed by the village. The history of the castle began from this tower, although reliable information about the castle appeared only in the 13th century. This tower still stands in the Gothic part of the castle.
Like many castles, Frýdlant changed its owners. Often this happened after wars or because of the ruin of the owners. The greatest contribution to the current appearance of the castle complex was made by the Bieberstein family, who owned the castle for three centuries. Under their strict guidance, the Gothic part of the castle was erected.
At the end of the 16th century, Melchior Redern and his wife Kateryna not only restored the old part of the castle, but also built a new chic Renaissance palace nearby.
In 1801, when the castle belonged to the Clam-Gallas family, the first castle museum in Europe was opened within its walls. In it, the Klam-Gallas demonstrated an extensive collection of weapons and antiquities related to the history of the medieval castle of the Czech Republic Frýdlant.
On the Knight's path, in full armor to inspect the museum, I go up to the ticket office. Having received a ticket, a booklet and a complete ban on photography, I am waiting in the wings to visit the castle. This waiting is something to take. Panoramic photos, a souvenir shop and a look at the defensive wall with a moat - this is an incomplete list.
The hour of X comes unnoticed. The guide unlocks the gate with an old key and through the wooden bridge, I and a group of companions enter the territory of the castle. The first courtyard of the castle makes you gasp and groan with admiration. Before us is a younger Renaissance palace. Its walls are covered with numerous "sgraffito" drawings. This courtyard is called Swedish because in 1648, when the Swedes captured the castle, they built a large horseshoe-shaped wall and hung a plaque with the inscription in Latin "Peace is stronger than war, I go where it leads me fate.Swedish captain Benjamin Magnus Nortmann.There is also a 300-year-old yew, planted at the same time.
We go up the stairs to the old part of the castle, built on a basalt rock. A small courtyard and now we go into the holy of holies of this institution in the old part of the castle. The tour is designed in such a way that, moving from room to room, the visitor learns the history of the castle and its owners from the original source to the present day. To the left of the entrance is the coat of arms of the first owners of the castle of the Ronovtsy family. It has two crossed branches.
In 1278 the castle was sold to the nobleman Roulek from Bieberstein. This family owned the castle for 300 years. Their antler coat of arms can also be seen in this room. Under the coat of arms are plaster casts of the heads of the knights of this family.
The following paintings were dedicated to the owners of the castle, Melchior Redern and his wife Katerzyna, who built the Renaissance palace. More precisely, they depict Katerzhina, who, after the death of her husband, zealously undertook to restore the power of the family. Suffered from such agility, as usual, the peasants and working people. In all the surrounding affairs, she found her own benefit. Even introduced a monopoly on brewing beer. The people called her Evil Catherine. The money earned was used not only for the palace, but also for the trips of Krishtof's son abroad. This was necessary to maintain the image of the nobility. There are only remains from the old owner in the room. The epic of this kind ended sadly. The younger Redern took part in the mutiny on the wrong side. They were defeated at the Battle of White Mountain. Krystof flees abroad. The castle is confiscated by the government.
Next room and new owner again. This time Albrecht from Wallenstein. This gentleman was able to buy a confiscated castle. Under him, there was no new construction in the castle. But in terms of the interior, Albrecht did a great job. His piece of glory and closeness to the King of the Czech Republic, a subject of His Majesty acquired courage in the battle at the White Mountain. The battle on the side of the emperor allowed him to amass a large fortune, which he subsequently increased through various frauds. In the end, the desire to be on top, that is, to be king, led to a deplorable result. A conspiracy with the Swedes against the Habsburgs was revealed, and the conspirator was killed.
In the next hall, called the Knight's Hall, we were met by a new branch of the Clam-Gallas owners, who received the castle. Each portrait of a nobleman is accompanied by a portrait of his wife. The picture epic continues in the hall called At the Piano. It was not placed here by chance. The owner of the castle at that time, Josephine, and her husband were very fond of and supported the theater and music and were personally acquainted with Beethoven. Their portraits hang over the piano.
The next generation of owners is represented by their son Eduard. The man went to the military path. He took part in many battles in the Austro-Prussian War of 1868. In his office you can see the highest European order - the Order of the Golden Fleece.
An excursion flows through the back rooms like a river. Stretcher, targets, hunting trophies, canteen. So we slowly move towards the Armory Hall. Here is the oldest exposition of weapons, starting from the 16th century.
On this tour of the Gothic wing came to a logical end. Across the street we go to the Renaissance wing. There are ladies' and men's rooms, children's rooms and servants' rooms. They are located along a long corridor. By the second hour, the tour had already begun to get a little fed up and my attentiveness had decreased to a minimum. A small sketch of what we managed to shoot will complete the tour of the castle.
The way back passed along the hill and opened the view of the castle in all its glory.
Rising in the Czech city of Friedland, a 30-minute bus ride from the city of Liberec, on a 60-meter cliff, is a unique architectural masterpiece. The Renaissance castle in combination with the medieval Gothic castle create a harmonious ensemble, emphasizing the beauty of each other.
The name of the castle in German means "keep the earth". According to legend, once a local resident bequeathed these lands to his seven sons. One of the cult writers of the last century, Franz Kafka, wrote his novel The Castle, inspired by Friedland.
In the 11th century, at the intersection of trade routes, a 50-meter tower was built, on the roof of which bonfires were kindled, which served as a beacon for merchants. Later, in the 13th century, the tower became part of the Gothic Old Town.
Traditionally for Czech castles, the owners Friedland Castle were constantly changing. For three centuries, the owners of the castle were the King of the Czech Republic Premysl Otakar, the Biberstein family and, finally, the Redern family, who were successful entrepreneurs and great connoisseurs of beauty. According to the project of the Italian architect Marco Spazio, a palace with sgraffito decoration and a chapel was built in the city.
During the Thirty Years' War, the castle passed to the Generalissimo of the Imperial Army, Albrecht von Wallenstein, and served as an ammunition depot. A sculptural portrait of the owner has been preserved in the courtyard of the castle. After his death, Friedland went to Count Matthias Clam-Gallas. After fires in 1676 and 1684, the castle was partially rebuilt. At the end of the 18th century, the Neo-Renaissance Castellan Wing was added to it.
In 1801 Friedland Castle was the first European castle to open its doors to visitors. It exhibited a collection of antique furniture, books and paintings of the 16th-17th centuries, knightly armor and weapons. Today, there is a museum on the territory of the castle dedicated to the history of the 30-year war and Albrecht von Wallenstein. In the art gallery, you can admire the paintings by Czech masters Petr Brandl, Karl Shkreta, Vaclav Vavrynets Rainer. The rooms of Friedland Castle house collections of weapons, smoking pipes, as well as a children's room with unique toys from the late 19th century.
Opening hours of Friedland Castle.
April – From 9.00 to 15.30
May, June - 9.00 to 16.00
July, August - 9.00 to 16.30
September – 9.00 to 16.00
October - From 9.00 to 15.30
Ticket price – Excursion 120 minutes.
Adults: 150 CZK
Children, students: 100 CZK
Family ticket: 400 CZK
The second tour - Armory - 60 minutes.
Entrance: 130 CZK
Family ticket: 370 CZK
How to get to Friedland Castle
Hische Castle is located in the village of the same name in the Czech Republic. The first mention of its existence dates back to 1169, but it is possible that the castle was built much earlier than this year. Over time, the castle was turned into a fortress, but Hishe has survived to our time in a modified form.
The current appearance of the castle was acquired by him in the second half of the 19th century. The author of perestroika was Ignatius Ulman. The institution moved from the Renaissance to the neo-Gothic style. In 1917, the famous Czech writer Karel Capek worked as an educator in this building. Later, the description of the castle is found in one of his works - "Krakatit".
In the period from 1839 to 1841, a brewery was built in Hische, but it practically did not function. In 2007, the production of high-quality beer was restored, and now all tourists who come on an excursion to the castle are offered a tasting.
Liberec castle
The Liberec Castle is a vast neoclassical palace located near the historic city center at the Castle Square. The first buildings were erected in the 16th century, but in 1615 the castle burned down, only a tower with a bell tower survived from it, which has survived to this day. The castle, during its existence, was replaced by several aristocratic owners who expanded, repaired and completed it.
In the post-war period, the castle was bought by the StekloExport company, which invested a lot of money to restore it. In recent years, valuable exhibits of the Czech and Slovak glass industry have been exhibited in the castle. In addition, the castle began to be used as a concert and cultural venue of the city, as well as on special occasions.
Grabstein Castle
Grabštejn Castle is located in the Czech town of Grabštejn and was built in the 13th century in the Gothic style. Over the centuries, the architecture of the castle has undergone changes, and now we see the building of the XVI century in the Renaissance style.
The main building of the castle, made of white stone in the form of a rhombus, is a round tower with an original top in the form of a helmet, which offers a beautiful view of the surroundings. The attraction of the castle complex is the 16th-century chapel of St. Barbara, which has preserved original frescoes and heraldic motifs. The park around the castle was created in the Gothic and Renaissance style and was restored at the beginning of the 19th century.
Grabstein Castle passed from one owner to another, until 1945, when it was confiscated by the state. Now in the restored castle, which was opened in 1993 for tourists, you can see interesting interiors dedicated to various historical figures and periods of history. In the basement of the castle there are exhibitions that introduce visitors to local crafts, and an old forge. Grabstein Castle is included in the list of national monuments of the country.
Castle Bezdez
Bezdez Castle, with a large tower, about 40 meters high, has a pronounced Gothic style. This architectural monument is located 20 kilometers southeast of the Czech city of Česká Lipa.
The castle was erected by order of the Czech king Přemysl II Otakar, its construction lasted from 1264 to 1278. However, the king never lived to see the completion of the work - he died during the battle on the Moravian field. Built according to all the canons of the fortifications of that time, Bezdez Castle successfully protected the lands of Czech kings from the invasion of enemies, both internal, during the Hussite wars, and external, until the middle of the 17th century, was not captured and partially destroyed by the Swedes during the Thirty Years War.
In 1621, the castle was donated to the Benedictines by Albrecht von Wallenstein, and in 1666 the monks of the order transferred here from the Prague residence a copy of the Black Madonna from the Spanish Montserrat consecrated in Rome. Bezdez Castle becomes a place of pilgrimage, with up to 40,000 believers visiting it every year. In 1785, the Prussian troops captured the castle, and the further abolition of the monastery became the main reason for the desolation and further destruction of the walls and main buildings of the castle.
Only in 1932, a descendant of the former owners of the castle, Karl Wallenstein, together with the tourist club of Vartenberk, redeems the ruins of the family estate for a symbolic sum of 2,000 crowns. Currently, the top of the mountain is crowned by the surviving parts of the castle, two towers 30 and 45 meters high and a Gothic chapel. Work on the restoration of this architectural monument of the Czech Republic is ongoing to this day.
Rogozec Castle
Rogozec Castle is located in the district of the same name in Turnov. The castle was founded in 1280 by the Markvartitz family and was originally a fortress.
From the second half of the 14th century, the fortress belonged to Markvart from Vartemberk, who quite often clashed with his neighbors. Each time it ended with Markvart attacking the offenders, unleashing futile wars. King Wenceslas IV did not like this, and he - by siege - took away the castle from Markvart. Until 1422, Rogozec belonged to the king. After the castle changed several more owners.
The castle acquired its current appearance in the 19th century during a major restoration. Now Rogozec is open to tourists.
Friedland Castle
Friedland Castle skillfully combines two architectural styles - Gothic and Renaissance. The castle was built in the thirteenth century at an important strategic position - the intersection of two trade routes. Accordingly, the main function of the castle was to protect this route from robbers and robbers.
In 1622, the famous commander Albrecht Waldstein took possession of Fridlan Castle. During the Thirty Years' War, the castle had to engage in battles more than once - the Swedish troops tried more than once to capture the powerful fortification.
Today Friedland Castle is a museum and is open to everyone. During the tours, visitors will be invited to get acquainted with the collections of antique furniture, weapons, paintings and books from the 16th and 17th centuries.
Castle Lemberk
Lemberk Castle is located in the town of Jablon in Podjestedy, in the northern part of the Czech Republic. The architecture, repeatedly rebuilt, the castle contains elements of Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque and Classicism.
The castle dates back to 1241, when the influential feudal lord Havel Markvartits built the Levenberk fortress, later the name was shortened to Lemberk. The castle was also the family home of several generations of Markvartits, until in 1401 the castle was captured by their distant relative, Jan Vertenberk. In 1427 the castle was sacked during the Hussite uprising. In the 16th century, the castle repeatedly changed owners, introducing new elements into its appearance. Originally built in the Gothic style, the fortress gradually acquired the features of a Renaissance castle.
During the Seven Years' War, the castle housed a military hospital, and after its completion, the estate was empty for some time.
From 1726 until the end of World War II, the castle belonged to the Clam-Gallas family. After the war, the castle was nationalized and turned into a museum. To date, the full-scale reconstruction of the castle, which began in 1979, continues. Exhibitions and regular tours are held on the territory of the castle.
Sights of Liberec
Decoration of the Liberec Region
Going on a tour of the Czech Republic, tourists must include a visit to Liberec. They stay at the hotel for a couple of days, and walking along the narrow medieval streets, they get acquainted with the numerous monuments of history and architecture. Of particular interest is the Frýdlant Castle, located 25 kilometers from Liberec. It is not only an architectural monument of Liberec, but of the entire Czech Republic.
Frýdlant Castle has existed for more than seven centuries and is the most famous ancient castle in Central Europe. It gives an incredible opportunity to every visitor to feel the atmosphere of the Middle Ages, to get acquainted with the life and culture of the nobility.
The location of the Frýdlant castle on a steep sixty-meter cliff above the river creates the impression of impregnability and fascinates everyone who saw this sight for the first time. The name of the castle comes from an old German word and means "keep the earth". According to a legend that lives in these places, a father lived on the banks of the river a long time ago, who bequeathed the land to his sons. It was they who built the first castle on this land.
History of the castle
The old fortress of the castle was built at the beginning of the 13th century, on the site of an old tower built in the 11th century, which served as a lighthouse. Frýdlant Castle was erected by a representative of the famous Rogovtsev family, and was a magnificent example of the Gothic style of early Renaissance architecture.
Chronicles have been preserved that speak of the first owners of the castle, who sold it to the royal family of Rudolf Bieberstein in 1278. This event was preceded by the completion of the construction of the main complex of buildings of the castle.
A few centuries later, Frýdlant Castle became the property of the Redern dynasty, who enlarged the territory of the castle and erected new buildings on it. During their administration of the castle, a renaissance palace and a small chapel were built.
From 1622 to 1634 the castle was owned by Albrecht Wallenstein, who was granted the title of Generalissimo and the title of Duke of Friedland by Emperor Ferdinand II. However, the new owner, being passionate about military affairs, rarely visited the castle, and then completely turned it into a warehouse for storing ammunition.
After the death of von Wallenstein in 1634, the castle passes into the possession of Gallas. And since the beginning of 1757, the castle has been managed by a hereditary nobleman, diplomat Klam-Gallas, whose descendants were the owners of the castle until the end of the Second World War.
Museum exhibits
In 1801, Clam-Gallas declared Frýdlant Castle a museum and opened the doors to visitors, which is still open today. Guests of the museum complex of Friedlant Castle can personally visit the main halls of the Renaissance palace, see the chambers of Albrecht von Wallenstein, and also view the treasury of the Gallas collections.
The armory of the castle is interesting, where eerie specimens of military weapons of the 12th century are presented. Informatively examine the male and female halves of the castle. Their interiors are strikingly different from each other. Men's - more severe and concise, and women's - replete with cozy carpets and upholstered furniture.
The kitchen of the castle impresses with its size and ancient utensils. Of interest is the children's room of Frýdlant Castle, which gives an idea of the toys used by the children of European aristocrats in the 19th century.
Castle architecture
The architecture of the castle is admired by modern builders and architects. It has retained its charm to the present day. The walls of Frýdlant Castle represent a separate unique architectural feature. Such incredibly beautiful stone painting, called “sgraffito”, can be seen on a few medieval facades.
Part of the building was reconstructed in the second half of the 19th century. Today, the renovation of the castle continues. The roof of the chapel and the waxed wooden floors were restored. The restoration of terraces and castle steps made of stone continues.
