Medieval gothic castle Sychrov
Good afternoon, dear readers! What could be better than traveling around cities and countries? Today we will climb to the very north of Bohemia and look at the famous pearl of Karya Sychrov Castle. Since the 15th century, the castle has been home to many famous historical figures. And yet, as many as three famous Czechoslovak films were filmed here. It is a must to visit this interesting place. Let's do it together?
Most romantic castle northern Bohemia is called Sychrov. locals his name is simply Český ráj. The translation is clear even without a dictionary. So why is this Czech Paradise?
Majestic, but delicate, the fortress was built by a visiting French architect. And the French knight Lamotte de Frintropp lived here.
Construction was completed by the beginning of the 15th century. So the castle can be considered relatively "young".
By the way, these are not the only French people who lived here. And even King Charles X himself spent some time in Sychrov. True, until he was overthrown in 1834. Then he had to hastily leave Bohemia.
In 1740, Zámek Sychrov experienced the most unpleasant years. It became a large warehouse, and the premises of the castle were used ... for agricultural purposes. Unfortunately, then much was irretrievably lost.
By 1820, the land and buildings were acquired by Karl Rogan. He was able to see the beauty of the castle and decided to restore it.
Now, in the appearance of the castle, Baroque and Romanticism styles were successfully combined, later Neo-Gothic elements were added. But only outside.
Sychrov Castle also has a poetic name - the Carved Miracle of the Czech Republic. You will understand this when you go inside.
Most of the interiors are made of wood. Piotr Bushek created real dark wood lace. Few people can boast of such fine carving. It cost a fortune, of course. Although, it was definitely worth it, because the castle became famous throughout the Czech Republic. It was spoken of as the "Pearl of Bohemia".
Some time after the end of World War II, the Nazis settled in the castle. But, soon he came under the patronage Czech state and was opened as a museum.
Park around the castle
Duke Rogan ordered to smash english park around your castle. The so-called "botanical collection" settled here: exotic plants from all over the world. Most of the wonders of the park have survived to this day. Here you will see:
- An old water tower. It has three floors, the tower served to supply water to the most remote corners of the garden. Even in a dry summer everything was green here. The tower is made in the style of the Italian Renaissance.
- Greenhouses full of all kinds of plants. Many of them are absolutely not adapted to live in the climate of northern Bohemia. They were given special care.
- A peculiar shade of medieval romance is the artificial ruins of Arthur's Castle. Here you can dream a lot among the ruins, tune in to a creative way.
- Stone pump. Another building for the plumbing system. By the way, quite modern for the beginning of the 19th century.
- What is a castle without its own Dovecote? The old way of sending and receiving mail.
- Small Guard House. Everything is clear here. The "pearl" of Bohemia had to be well guarded. The guards lived right here on the property.
- If you go further, you will find a small Chinese lake with iron bridges, pools and fountains.
It's a very beautiful place, so don't forget to charge your camera. For photographers, this is a special paradise.
Museum and painting collection
Inside you will find a collection of French paintings that Rogan brought with him. Later, it was supplemented.
Now the collection is recognized as one of the largest in the world (!) There are not only landscapes, still lifes and battle scenes. The collection contains unique portraits famous people familiar to us from the novels of Hugo and Stendhal.
A portrait of Cardinal Richelieu has been preserved.
In addition, a collection of antique furniture, porcelain, weapons and clocks, books and manuscripts is exhibited in the halls of the castle.
Here you will also see the owner's hunting trophies, as well as a collection of hunting weapons from different eras.
A portrait gallery remains in memory of the owners. It contains 242 portraits of all members of the Rogan family.
Be sure to check out the Chapel Mother of God inside the castle. It is famous for its stained-glass windows, the work of master Jan Quast. These are some colorful biblical stories.
The chapel contains a number of sculptures of Rogan's ancestors.
Filmed here
Sikhrov lit up in the cinema. Two films are released in 1972. The action takes place on the territory of the castle.
The first film is the comedy Immortal Auntie, and the second is another fairy tale. The film "Goldilocks" based on the novel by Erben.
Now you know that these are not some special decorations, but the very carved decor of Sychrov.
Many write that the film "Three Nuts for Cinderella" was filmed on the territory of the castle. In fact, the movie was partly filmed in German castle Moritzburg.
In general, more than 30 films have been filmed in the castle since 1970.
Ghost of Bertha Rogan
The owner of Sykhrov had a daughter, Berta Rogan. In the castle, she is known as the "Black Lady". Berta still lives here. True, now Bertha moves silently around the castle and freely passes through the walls.
Yes, you understood correctly. The castle is haunted by a ghost. It is very neat. He likes cleanliness and order, so that everything is in its place. And he just can't stand it when something is rearranged. Move the table in one of the rooms, take away the chair - tomorrow morning everything will be in its place.
In many rooms of the palace you will see a portrait of a beautiful woman dressed in black. This is Bertha Rogan - the Black Lady. She does not like to show herself to tourists and is constantly busy with business.
Every day and every night for centuries, the ghost of Bertha Rogan has guarded the treasure. Moreover, she guards them very well.
Almost all historians who have explored Sychrov are sure that huge wealth is hidden somewhere in the dungeons. It got there during the time of the Bourgeois Revolution in France. Nobody has seen him since. Or is it just that Bertha doesn't want to part with her jewels?
If you are ready to visit the castle, then excursions to Sychrov and the Kost fortress are carried from Prague. You can get to know them here And here.
Where to stay near the castle
There are beautiful places near the castle. You can take a deep breath of fresh air and spend the night in a hotel nearby.
Now many housing options have appeared on the service Airbnb. We have written how to use this service. If you do not find a free room in the hotel, then look for accommodation through this booking site.
We offer good options for hotels near the castle
How to get there
- by car from Liberec:
From the city of Liberec, the easiest way to get there. All the time to the south along the highway E442 (35) to the town of Hradec Kralove. Further, to the pointer to Sykhrov. You can park in style, right at the gates of the castle. - by car from Prague:
From Prague, take the direction to the northeast, the most convenient route is E65 (R10). As soon as you see the exit to E442 (35), which is about 70 kilometers, follow the direction to the city of Liberec. Continue along the already familiar route. - by train from Liberec:
Every 2 hours, starting at 8:31, a train to Sychrov departs from the Liberec railway station. The ride is not long, but a bonus - look at the marvelous Bohemian views. - by train from Prague:
Every 1-1.5 hours, a train to Turnov departs from the main railway station in Prague. Travel time 2-2.40 minutes. In Turnov, change to the train going to Sychrov station. Travel time 9 minutes. They go every 2 hours. From the station Sychrov to the castle on foot 20-30 minutes.
Address: Sychrov 1, Sychrov, 463 44 Liberec
Official site: www.zamek-sychrov.cz
Working hours
- September, October, April: from 9.00 to 16.30
- November-March: from 9.00 to 15.30
What is the price
There are several tours of the castle. Most popular route A - a walk through the castle with a guide:
- for adults 150 kroons;
- children and pensioners 105 kroons;
- ticket for the whole family 405 kroons.
Other routes can be found on the castle's website.
So another journey has ended, but we have many new stories ahead of us. By the way, it's time for you, dear readers, to go on a journey. Do not sit still, choose the most interesting directions on our website.
Castles and fortresses of the Czech Republic
Castles of North Bohemia
Medieval gothic castle Sykhrov
Just 20 kilometers south of Liberec and 85 kilometers northeast of Prague is an ancient medieval castle in the neo-Gothic style, which, in addition to beautiful architecture, interesting interiors and rich collections, is attractive for tourists due to the many legends associated with it - Czech castle Sychrov.
STORY
Medieval castle in the Czech Republic Sychrov dates back to the 15th century, when a small Gothic fortress was built on this site. In its place, in the 16th century, a noble stone house was erected, and then in 1690-1693 - a small medieval baroque castle, built by the French knight Lamott d'Frynthropp, who was in the service of the Austrian emperor and during the Thirty Years' War, the rewarded estate of Sychrov, confiscated from Czech nobles. In 1740 Medieval castle in the Czech Republic Sychrov was bought by František of Waldstein. The main residence of the Wallensteins was Mnichov, so Sykhrov ceased to be a place permanent residence nobles. For almost 80 years, the medieval castle of Sychrov was used mainly as an economic facility and accommodation for servants.
New times began on August 30, 1820, when the French Duke Karl Alain Gabriel Rogan became the new owner of the medieval castle of Sychrov. From this moment begins the hundred and twenty-year-old era of the Rogans in the castle of the Czech Republic Sychrov and the time of the greatest glory of this medieval castle. The cradle of the family was Brittany, where the first mention of the Rogans can be found as early as 951. Gradually, the position of the Rogans was strengthened, the family was one of the ten most influential noble families in France, and was related to French kings. The clan was made up of several lines, most of their members held important political, military and ecclesiastical posts. After the Great French Bourgeois Revolution, the Rogans left France and moved to the Austrian Empire. But, unlike other French fugitives who later returned to France, the Rogans remained in the Czech Republic, which at that time was part of the great Austria-Hungary.
The main refuge of the Rogans in the Czech Republic was the medieval castle of Sychrov. When purchased, a dilapidated medieval baroque castle was a sad sight, and, of course, did not meet the requirements assigned to the residence of dukes and princes. Therefore, already the first owner of the castle from the Rogan family, Prince Karl Alain Gabriel Rogan, carried out a magnificent reconstruction of this medieval castle, completed in 1834. Particular impact on appearance Sychrov Castle was rendered by its other owner, Prince Kamil Josef Idesbald Philip Rogan, under whom Sychrov acquired its modern neo-Gothic look. Inner courtyard and tower Neo-Gothic reconstruction of Sychrov Castle in the period 1847-1862, carried out according to the project of the professor of the academy fine arts Bernard Gruber, ranked Sychrov among the most significant Czech castles of the 19th century, such as Hluboka nad Vltavou and Lednice. All works were entrusted exclusively to local craftsmen and artisans. Among them special place occupied by Piotr Bushek, a carver who, with his creativity and original talent, gave the interior of the castle an incomparable atmosphere and high artistic value. In addition to Busek, other outstanding masters participated in the work on the castle - sculptors Emmanuel Max and Vincenz Smolik, upholsterer Ludwig Grein, carpenter Peter König, blacksmith Jan Nowak.
Prince Kamil Rogan paid special attention to the castle park in the English style. The park of the castle of the Czech Republic Sychrov during his lifetime reached an unprecedented flourishing and was the prototype for the emergence of a number of botanical gardens known today, such as Pruhonice or Konopiste. Under Camille Rogan medieval castle Sychrov, harmony was achieved between the exterior of the castle, its interior and the park.
At the end of the Second World War, in accordance with the decree of President Beneš, the medieval castle of Sychrov was confiscated and became a state monument. The Rogans were forced to go into immigration. At first, the castle of the Czech Republic Sychrov was used as a collection point for confiscated property. May 1, 1950 a limited part of the castle was opened to visitors. In the 70s, the eastern wing of the Czech Sychrov castle and the corridor of the southern wing with a monument to Antonin Dvorak became available to visitors. Since the early nineties of the twentieth century, the castle has been undergoing a large-scale restoration of the exterior, interior and park of the castle, the purpose of which is to bring the medieval castle of the Czech Republic Sychrov as close as possible to the time of its greatest prosperity in the second half of the 19th century.
LEGENDS
The Legend of the Black Lady
As in any self-respecting Czech castle, there is a ghost in the medieval castle of Sychrov. This is the Lady in Black - Bertha Rogan - the daughter of the first owner of Sikhrov, who belonged to a glorious French family, Charles Alain Rogan. It is believed that it is she who appears in the castle as a ghost and is its keeper. Because without exaggeration we can say: this woman sacrificed her life to her family. Berta was the only child in the family, and so that the lineage would not be interrupted in the male line, she was married to her father's younger brother. But the marriage remained childless. And in order to continue the line of the "Czech" Rogans, the couple adopted her husband's nephews. The eldest of them - Camille Rogan - later became the owner of the castle. And after her death, she took up the fact that she began to guard the countless treasures of the Rogans hidden in the cellars of this castle in the Czech Republic, which they took out of France after the French Revolution, but did not manage to take them out of the Czech Republic after the arrival of the Communists and the nationalization of this medieval castle.
One can believe in the authenticity of the existence of these treasures or not, but the fact remains that any violation of the order established in the castle of Sychrov - rearranged furniture, an open door or window - causes an extremely negative reaction from the Black Lady, and in the morning all the moved objects are in their places. And the ghost of the Black Lady loves to frighten too inquisitive tourists by winking at them from numerous portraits of women in black dresses hanging on the walls of the art galleries of the Sychrov castle in the Czech Republic.
WHAT TO SEE
The collections of Sychrov Castle consist of treasures that the Rogans managed to take out of France, and they took out almost everything they had. The portrait gallery alone has 242 exhibits, it contains portraits of all representatives of this family, starting from the 16th century. By the way, this is the largest collection of French portraiture in Europe outside of France. Among the portrait images there are many faces familiar to us from the historical novels of Stendhal, Hugo, Dumas. In addition to the kings, for example, there is a portrait of Cardinal Richelieu and Madame Marie Aimé Rogan, who bore the title of Duchess de Chevreau. This lady became famous in her time for intrigues, intrigues and love affairs. It was she who served as the prototype for Milady Winter from The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas.
The castle library contains more than one and a half thousand folios published in the 16th-17th centuries, as well as nine old handwritten books. The local collection of antique furniture is one of the best in the Czech Republic. And the set of miniatures from the 16th century is absolutely unique.
Noteworthy is the English park of the castle of the Czech Republic Sychrov, the children will be interested in the aquarium and the exhibition " fairy world". Well, do not forget that the medieval castle of Sychrov belongs to the famous region of the Czech Republic Czech Paradise, famous for its numerous medieval castles, such as Kost, castle-hotel Gruba Skala, unforgettable nature and ski resorts.
Photo of the interiors of the Czech castle Sychrov
PRACTICAL INFORMATION
The road from Liberec to the castle of the Czech Republic Sychrov is quite simple - we drive south along the road E442(35) in the direction of Prague and Hradec Kralove ( Praha, Hradec Kralove ) after 19 kilometers turn right into the turn 41 follow the signs to Sykhrov and Pacherzhitsa ( Sychrov, Packerice ), then again to the right to Sychrov, we pass the town of Husa and after one and a half kilometers we arrive in Sychrov. Paid parking located right at the main castle gate.
It is also easy to get to the medieval castle of Sychrov from Prague - for this you have to go to the northeast along the highway E65(R10), after 70 kilometers to move to E442(35) in the direction of Liberec and after 3 kilometers take the same exit 41 to Sychrov.
When public transport the most convenient way to get from Liberec to the castle of the Czech Republic Sychrov is by direct train - it goes to 8.31, 10.31, 12.31 etc. every two hours. IN reverse direction the train leaves for 8.49, 10.49 etc. until 22.49. Travel time 35 minutes, one-way ticket price - 45 CZK. There are also direct bus, however, it follows only once a day from the bus station NISA MHD V 11.15 . From Sychrov to Liberec this bus goes to 9.08.
For tourists, the medieval castle of Sychrov is open all year round from 9.00 before 16.30 , in April, September and October - up to 15.30 , from November to March - from 10.00 before 14.00 seven days a week. Entrance ticket for the main route for adults - 150 CZK, for children and persons over 65 years of age - 100 CZK, family ticket is worth 400 CZK.
More full information about this medieval castle and its expositions can be found on the website of the castle of the Czech Republic Sychrov "www.zamek-syhrov.cz"
Previous photo Next photo
Sychrov Castle (Zámek Sychrov) is picturesquely located in the north of the Czech Republic in the Czech Paradise nature reserve, which in itself deserves a separate visit. Sychrov is a relatively young castle (built only in the eighteenth century) and has never been used as fortification. But it is often and deservedly called the "carved miracle of the Czech Republic."
History paragraph
In the 14th century there was a small settlement here, later a fortress was founded, later destroyed during the Thirty Years' War (1618-1648), like many other fortresses in the Czech Republic. In 1628 the commander Albrecht from Wallenstein became the owner of these lands. In 1690-1693, a French nobleman in the Austrian service, Lamotte de Frinthropp, built a small baroque castle in Sychrov. The estate had many different owners until Charles de Rohan acquired it in 1820.
Sychrov is often and deservedly called the "carved miracle of the Czech Republic."
Representatives of one of the most noble families of France were forced to leave native land after the revolution. Charles de Rohan entered the service of the Habsburgs and rose to the rank of field marshal. At the time of the purchase, the castle was half destroyed, so the duke began to restore Sychrov, and completed the reconstruction only by 1834. In 1862, Camille Rogan rebuilt the castle in accordance with the neo-Gothic spirit that came into vogue then, in this form the building appears before us to this day.
What to see
Sychrov was a small corner of France in the Czech Republic. The spirit of France was felt both in the exterior of the building and in its interiors. The castle belonged to the Rogan family until 1945, when the communists came to power and took the castle away, under the pretext that the owner of Sikhrov collaborated with the Nazis. Until 1950, as the communists like it, the castle was equipped with a collection point for confiscated property. On May 1, 1950, part of Sychrov was opened to the public.
One of the main attractions of the castle is an English-style park. In addition to rare species of trees, architectural objects are also interesting here, complementing and diversifying the landscape: water tower, conservatory, Arthur's castle (artificial ruin), guard house, dovecote and stone pump.
The "carved miracle of the Czech Republic" Sychrov is called for its interiors and furniture, on which the famous wood carver Petr Bushek worked. IN art gallery castle you can get acquainted with the portraits of the Rogan family and various historical figures. Also known is the Sikhrov Library, which contains a lot of old books. The castle houses the museum of Antonin Dvořák, who loved Sychrov very much and often visited here.
They say that in the cellars of Sychrov there are untold riches, which are guarded by the ghost of the former mistress of the castle Bertha Rogan - the Black Lady.
The children's film "Three Nuts for Cinderella" was filmed in Sychrov Castle.
Coordinates
Address: Sychrov 1, Sychrov, 463 44 Liberec, Czech Republic. Phone: 482 416 011. How to get there: from Prague by car along the E65 (R10) highway, after 70 kilometers take the E442 (35) towards Liberec and after 3 kilometers there will be an exit to Sychrov. The distance is about 100 kilometers.
From Prague by bus: there are buses from the Černý most metro station to Liberec, the journey takes about an hour and a half. From Liberec about half an hour by direct train to Sychrov.
June 27th, 2013 09:36 am
In today's report, I propose to dive into wonderful world real castle. Built in the Romantic Gothic style and impressing with its interiors and the preservation of historical collections, Sychrov Castle has been attracting the attention of people from all over the world for many years. We decided to visit it too. Under the cut traffic!
To do this, let's go back to the summer of 2012, when my girlfriend and I went on vacation to the Czech Republic. In previous reports, I talked about Prague and the old balneary in Karlovy Vary, today it was the turn of the castle, visited on one of the days of rest. We chose for a very long time which castle to go to, because there are just dozens of options - Gluboka nad Vltavou, Karlstejn, Konopiste, and many others. But in the end, we chose Sychrov Castle. Let's just say, we did not lose) Although I also really want to visit the rest, but this is in the future. The interiors of the castle and the collection are simply amazing! The only small minus is the external one is quite simple classic look(not gloomy medieval, not standing on a rock, on a cliff and with a bunch of turrets), but this did not interfere at all. For the first castle - just fine (previously, I actually didn’t have to get into real castles, except perhaps Podgoretsky, but it was not so well preserved).
And so, one day, we bought a ticket towards Turnov on the train, and there - a ticket from Turnov to Sychrov by the local "rural train". Well, then adventures began - according to the classics of the genre, we boarded a local small train that did not stop in Sychrov, and suddenly swept to the city of Rychnov (Rychnov u Jablonce nad Nisou). We couldn't get out earlier. By the way, it turned out that the Czech "rural trains" are not some old wrecks for you, but a modern mini-train with all the amenities (!). This fact amazed me. We left in the city of Rikhnov and walked around the neighborhood. Before the train, we had 1.5 hours, we sat in a cool local cafe and enjoyed the cleanest air. But more on that in a separate report. Then we got on the right train and arrived in Sychrov. Walk for 15-20 minutes and we are there. We bought a ticket for photography, a Russian guide book, waited a bit and joined the new excursion. It was very interesting (although they were told in Czech, it was quite possible to understand everything from the book). Inside, everything is strict - they open one room, close the second one behind, they don’t let you get stuck) Now I will tell you a brief history of the castle and move on to photographs. Photo captions will be short mine and long excerpts from the guide book.
"Sychrov Castle is located 100 km from Prague, it is called the pearl of the picturesque North Bohemian region. The history of the place where the castle is located dates back to the 15th century. At that time there was a fort, which was the property of the Czech royal chamber. In its place in the 16 th century was a stone manor, built in 1690 - 1693 in the Baroque style, built by the knight Lamott d "Frynthropp. In 1740 the estate was bought by František from Wallenstein. For almost eighty years the building has been used for agricultural purposes and for the accommodation of employees, without any significant changes. The situation changed radically on August 30, 1820, when Duke Carl Alain Gabriel Rogan became the new owner of Sychrov. Sychrov, however, did not meet the requirements for the residence of dukes and princes, being a dilapidated baroque castle. Duke Carl Alain Gabriel Rogan started the restoration (completed in 1834). The reconstruction of the castle, however, continued, by Prince Philip Rohan, thanks to which Sychrov had a neo-Gothic style. Romantic Neo-Gothic style in 1847-1862, appears within the framework of the project of the Academy of Fine Arts of Bernard Gruber, in the 19th century Sychrov becomes the most important monument of historical styles. All works were exclusively entrusted to domestic artists and craftsmen. The turn of the 20-30s of the 20th century brought certain alterations to the castle, which not only partially changed the appearance of the building, but also its interiors. Many rooms were decorated with rich carvings, French embossed wallpapers made of pigskin. The neo-gothic furniture was replaced with new, modern furniture.
After World War II, the castle was confiscated in 1945. under the Beneš decree. Now it belongs to the state. Initially, acting as a collection point for confiscated property, from May 1, 1950 it became available to the public. During the 70s, the tours were extended to the east wing and the corridor in the south wing of the castle of the Antonin Dvořák Museum. Since the beginning of the nineties, a major overhaul and restoration of the exterior, interior and park has been carried out.
1. In order to get to the castle from the Sychrov railway platform, you need to climb a little uphill and stomp on foot for 20 minutes. But the views here are luxurious, the air is clean, and in general - the soul rejoices.
2. We reach the entrance to the territory of the castle, we see a map of the area. The towers of the castle are already visible nearby.
3. Directly in front of the castle itself, we meet such a small tower building, unfortunately, I can’t say exactly what it was intended for.
4. Western facade of the castle.
5. Let's get closer to the main entrance. Neo-gothic style immediately catches the eye =)
6. And here is the gate. It's time to buy a ticket and go to the courtyard.
7. But let's take a closer look at the door handles. It's just wonderful!
8. And also pay attention to the floor - a kind of "wooden paving stone".
9. Inner courtyard of the castle.
10. On the walls are coats of arms of representatives of the Rogan family. By the way, throughout the entire walk around the castle, the coats of arms of the family are found everywhere - on the walls, on the tree, on the furniture.
11. Camille Joseph Philip Idesbald Rogan (1800-1892) erected two powerful towers, which were supposed to give the castle the appearance of an ancient fortress. Prismatic, on the south side, is called Austrian; cylindrical, on north side, Brittany (in honor of the homeland of the Rogan family - Bertani). cylindrical tower. Attracts a weather vane on a spire in the form of a boy with a bugle.
12.Potius Mori Quam Foedari. "Better death than dishonor." Motto of Brittany. In the galleries of the courtyard you can find many similar coats of arms.
13. We go inside the castle. The first thing we see is a lobby with a staircase, but so far behind glass.
"The vestibule was intended to demonstrate the antiquity and nobility of the family of the princes of Rouen. The princes of Rouen are considered one of the oldest noble families. The history of the family dates back to the 10th century. The family got its name from the name of the town of Rouen in French Brittany. Over time, the family acquired everything more influence, expanded its possessions and became one of the richest and most influential French noble families.In 1789, a revolution began in France, which later turned into terror.Everybody hated the aristocracy, many members of the nobility were executed, so for those who remained, flight was the only way to save life Among those who left France was the Rouen family, who sought refuge in the territory of the then Habsburg monarchy. Sychrov, who turned into a new magnificent It's a nest of sorts. The dominant feature of the lobby is a marble sculpture by Emmanuel Max, which represents one of the most famous
ancestors of the princes of Rouen, Henry 2nd, Duke of Rouen and Prince of Leon. He was not only a famous general and a successful diplomat during the Thirty Years' War of the 17th century, but also a cousin of the French king Henry 4th of Navarre. Rouen at that time were connected by family ties and with the French royal family of the Bourbons. Climbing the stairs, you can see the richly carved railings. This is the first work of the workshop of Piotr Bush, made for the castle of Sychrov. As a result of the fact that the railing was covered with a special mixture of resin, sand and paint, the illusion is created that the railing is not made of wood, but of cast iron. "
14. Through these doors we pass into the chapel of the castle.
15. And here is the chapel itself.
"The chapel of the castle of Sychrov is dedicated to the Virgin Mary. Scenes from her life are presented on stained-glass windows. Their author is the glass and porcelain artist Jan Zachary Quast. Windows on the left: Annunciation and Visitation; windows on the right: Nativity of Christ and the Flight into Egypt; window above the altar: Assumption of the Virgin Mary.The chapel is divided into several independent parts.First there is the vestibule of the chapel, intended for servants.The nave of the chapel - for employees and two oratories, for the prince's family.The so-called small
the oratory (above the entrance to the sacristy) was intended only for the princess, and in the second, so-called large oratory (above the threshold of the chapel) were the rest of the family. Sychrov Castle is famous for its carvings by Piotr Bushk, who was born in Prague. In 1856, he accepted the offer of Prince Camille of Rouen to make carved furniture and carved decorations for the castle. Piotr Bushek worked at Sychrov Castle for 38 years until his death in 1894. In the castle chapel there are shops made by his workshop, a church
pulpit and crucifix in front of the chapel. In addition to wood, marble was used to decorate the castle chapel. The white Carrara marble altar was made by Joseph Vishka. The sculpture of the ancestor of the prince of Rouen and the leader of the crusade Gottfried of Bouillon, was made from the same marble in the workshop of the famous Czech sculptor of the 19th century Emmanuel Max. Commemorative plaques are also made of marble, which are built into the walls of the chapel under the windows. The board on the right reminds
about the visit to Sychrov Castle by Emperor Franz Joseph I in 1866. The plaque on the left commemorates a visit to the castle by his son, the heir to the throne, Rudolf, who first visited Sychrov Castle in 1871 and again in 1880. The sounds of the organ played by the world-famous Czech composer Antonin Dvořák can still be heard today. He visited Sychrov Castle a total of nine times. The composer was on friendly terms with Alois Goble, the personal secretary of Prince Camille of Rouen. Today, we are reminded of visiting the castle of Sychrov Dvořák not only by a memorial plaque on one of the buildings of the castle, but also by the music festivals "Turnov and Sychrov Dvořák", which take place here every year.
16. The vestibule of the chapel, intended for servants. In the report, by the way, there will be a lot of ceilings of the halls, because all of them are simply amazing.
16. We pass into the lobby, pay attention to the design of the walls.
The vestibule painting is a series of ermine ponytails, which in the old days were considered signs of noble origin.
An interesting metal plate, which depicts a certain battle.
17. Stunning wooden lion on the railing of the main staircase.
18. We go up the stairs.
"The next work of Bush in the lobby is the cassette ceiling. Separate fields of the ceiling in the original were filled with neo-Gothic ornaments. They were removed in the 30s of the 20th century, because Princess Margarita, the wife of the last owner of the castle, Dr. Alain of Rouen, they seemed too tasteless."
19. General view of the stairs and interiors.
"Emine tails are also an integral part of the coat of arms of Rouen. In the lobby we can see the coats of arms four times, always under the lamps between the windows. The white (silver) part of the coat of arms is filled with ermine tails, and the red part is filled with nine roses, which were considered a sign of wealth. Under the coat of arms on a white ribbon the motto of the Rouen family is written "Better to die than to live without honor". The motto can also be seen on the door handles, which are made in the form of the head of a lion - the Rouen armorial bearer. In the lobby, you should pay attention to the busts of Rouen from white marble(the first bust on the right on the windowsill is Prince Karl Alain Gabriel of Rouen). The sculptures on the sandstone walls represent the famous Rouen ancestors.""
20. Always dreamed of seeing something like this in a real castle.
21. We begin our inspection of the second floor from the south wing. Salon or lounge for ladies.
"The rooms in the south wing are very small, so we can only look into them. The first three rooms are apartments
mother princess, i.e. mother of the owner of the castle. This is the entrance hall, bedroom and salon."
22. "The rest of the rooms are a hunting salon and an ancestral museum, in which the Rouen collected exhibits reminiscent of
about their glorious past (commemorative coins and awards, weapons, seals, and other items). "
23. "At the end of the south wing hallway, in the corner, is a tall wooden cabinet containing a freight elevator mechanism.
they lifted firewood for heating, clean linen or food upstairs.
24. Hunting trophies are everywhere.
25. We pass along the corridor to the premises of the western wing.
26. We find ourselves in the first room of this wing - the hallway-salon of the so-called royal apartments.
"The rooms of the western wing of the castle (the so-called royal apartments) were intended for the most distinguished guests who came to the castle of Sychrov. After the death of Prince Camille of Rouen (in 1892), noble guests no longer came to the castle, so the owners decided to rebuild the unused rooms of the royal apartments into children's rooms.
At the same time, the salon of the royal apartments has changed beyond recognition. It was divided by a partition into two smaller rooms. The cassette ceiling by Piotr Bush was covered with a new stucco ceiling to save heat. The red wallpaper has been removed. Wooden wall panels were also destroyed, paintings were hung on the walls of the lobby, and neo-Gothic furniture was replaced with more modern designs. A similar fate befell the rest of the rooms in the west wing. Only the parquet floors and wood paneling at the doors and windows have survived. They began to think about the reconstruction of the royal apartments only in 1982, when, when dismantling the partition, a cassette ceiling by Piotr Bush was accidentally found. But the reconstruction itself began only ten years later. It lasted from 1992 to 1999, after which the royal apartments received their original appearance, known until that time only from historical photographs of 1892.
During this seven-year reconstruction, the cassette ceiling, decorated with the coat of arms of Rouen, was completely restored. According to the surviving fragments of furniture upholstery, a fabric was woven, which matched both the pattern and color of the original furniture upholstery and wallpaper. According to historical photographs 6, wooden panels were carved on the lower part of the walls. Restored paintings, renovated furniture were again placed in the rooms as they were in the photographs. Some pieces of furniture, unfortunately, did not survive and were re-made from photographs. For example, a circular sofa made during
reconstruction. "
27. Let's admire the restored luxurious ceiling.
28. Let's go to the bedroom of the royal apartments.
"The bedroom of the royal apartments after the death of Camille of Rouen suffered the same fate as the previous room. During the reconstruction in the 90s of the 20th century, the stucco ceiling with gilded Bourbon lilies had to be restored here in accordance with photographs of that time. The wooden panels.Wallpaper on the walls is a copy produced in our time.
The canopy over the bed was also made anew, which was also destroyed during the reconstruction of the premises into the children's room. Many of the famous personalities for whom this apartment was intended have slept on this bed. During the reign of Prince Charles Alain Gabriel of Rouen, the deposed French king Charles X (brother of the executed Louis XVI) with his family and courtiers visited Sychrov Castle. Charles X also brought his niece Marie Teresa, daughter of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette. Also famous guests of Sychrov Castle, who visited it during the reign of Prince Camille of Rouen, were the Austrian ex-emperor Ferdinand I. or the Prussian King Wilhelm I, who used the castle as a general headquarters during the Prussian-Austrian war of 1866. After the end of the war in the same The castle was also visited by the Austrian Emperor Franz Joseph I."
29.
"In addition to the carved furniture by Piotr Bushka, the salon is decorated with large canvases depicting members of the French
royal dynasty. The group portrait represents the three grandsons of Louis XIV with their tutor Louise de Lamotte. This is about
Louis of Burgundy (in a group portrait a boy in red clothes, to the right of the front door, he is already an adult), his younger brother
Philip of Anjou, who in 1700 became King Philip V of Spain (in a group portrait a boy with a black dog, on the left
from the front door he is already an adult). The last person depicted in the portrait is Duke Charles of Berry. "
30. The ceiling is gorgeous again.
"During the Rococo era, the nobility began to show interest in the culture of the East. So-called oriental (sometimes Chinese or Japanese) salons and offices began to appear in many castles. This interest in the circles of the nobility continued into the 19th century, and therefore Prince Kamil
Rouen wished to equip a room in this style in the castle of Sychrov, where objects of art and everyday life of oriental origin were later collected and exhibited.
The furniture, decorated with expressive carvings covered with red and black lacquer, was made in the last third of the 19th century in Japan. Notice the large embroidered painting, and the three kakemon (Japanese scroll hangings) on the opposite wall, which represent court scenes. There is also a large collection of porcelain from China and Japan. The exception is part of the tea service on the table (the rest is in the sideboard in the opposite corner), which was made at the porcelain manufactory in the town of Berezovaya near Karlovy Vary and only imitates the oriental style. You can also see the oriental element (door handle with a Chinese head motif) on the door in the wall opposite the window, this is a wonderful work of the master's blacksmith Jan Nowak."
33. The office of the prince.
"The rooms of the northern wing of the castle served as the apartments of Prince Camille of Rouen, who gave the Sychrov castle its current neo-Gothic look. The first room of the apartment is a study, also furnished with carved furniture from the workshop of Bush. Prince Camille Joseph Philip of Rouen (life from 1800 to 1892) year) was married to Adelaide Lowenstein. Their marriage was not happy, and they remained childless. Therefore, the next owners of Sychrov Castle were the descendants of Kamil Benjamin's younger brother. The family estates passed to Prince Kamil in 1846.
By further acquisition of plots of land, the manor was further expanded, and as a result of building and cultural activities, the manor was landscaped.
Camille of Rouen was a philanthropist, worked not only in northern Bohemia, and had considerable merit in the development cultural life Prague. Four portraits to the right of the window represent close relatives of Prince Kamil. Two small paintings depict his nephews Alain and Victor. In the portrait of the "gardener" - his uncle Viktor Ludwik Meriadek. The portrait of a lady in a rich frame depicts his wife Camila Adelaide. Prince Kamil was known as a keen and educated botanist. In the castle of Sychrov, his passion was manifested by the laying of a beautiful castle park. In the office itself, this hobby of the prince is reminiscent not only of the herbarium and the microscope of the 18th century on the desk ...
34. ... but also a four-volume encyclopedia of botany and zoology of 1734 on the table on the left.
35. Dressing room.
"The toilet room served at the same time for washing and changing clothes. On the dressing table, next to the porcelain wash set, there is also a men's travel bag with shaving accessories. A porcelain vessel on the floor was used for washing feet. By the window there is a paravane of 1820, some fields of which are filled engravings depicting representatives of the Austrian nobility. The engravings on the walls represent French cathedrals."
36. Bedroom of Prince Kamil.
"Prince Camille's bedroom is one of the few rooms in the castle in which a tiled stove has been preserved. Such stoves used to be in many rooms. But in the 20th century, the Dukes of Rouen lived in the castle all year round. In winter, the heat of tiled stoves was not enough. Therefore, in many rooms these the stoves were destroyed and replaced with modern radiators, which were hidden before the castle was opened to the public.
Pay your attention to an interesting exhibit located near the window - a chased device for fumigating with aromatic herbs. Dried flowers were thrown on hot coals, which spread a pleasant aroma in the room. At the bottom of the night table is a copper vessel in the form of a frying pan, which was used to warm the bed. Hot coals were also poured into it. "
37. We pass into the next room. Prince's living room. Let's love the ceiling...
38 .... coat of arms above the door ...
39. ... and the general view itself. Another interesting preserved oven.
"In this living room, the prince received his guests. The walls of the room are decorated with portraits of prominent members of the Rogan family, as well as historical weapons, as evidence of the antiquity and glorious history of the family. The upholstered furniture, with preserved original upholstery, was made by the workshop of the carver Peter Bush. The plates on the walls were brought East Asia, and the two yellow vases on the floor are made in Munich and only imitate the oriental style."
40. Portraits around the perimeter of the room.
41. The corridor of the eastern wing of the castle.
"The corridor of the eastern wing of the castle is divided into three parts. In the first part, opposite the windows, there is a large picture representing a meeting of the French Parliament, something like a royal council. The middle part of the corridor served as an entrance hall big saloon. The paintings in round frames between the windows depict the Archbishop of Strasbourg, Armand Gaston of Rouen, and Philippe of Orleans, regent of France during the minority of King Louis XV. "
42. Another shot of the castle lobby.
43. "In the last part of the corridor, let's pay attention to the portrait of a lady with a magnificent ring around her neck. This is a portrait of Queen Elizabeth I of England."
From myself - a stunning and catchy picture.
44. Vestibule in front of the large oratory.
“From this vestibule we get into the so-called large oratory, in which the princely family sat during divine services. The vestibule itself played a communicative role, because it connected the 1st and 2nd floors of the castle. For this, a carved spiral staircase was made in the workshop of Peter Bush, which is decorated trembling tongues of 12 flames and motifs of the vine."
45. Oratory, where members of the Rohan princely family took part in the services held in the castle chapel. The walls of the chapel are decorated with carvings of saints, made in the late Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque styles.
46. One of my favorite frames. The private rooms of the princess.
Ladies' apartment, where Camille's wife, Adele, lived in the second half of the 19th century. The dominant feature of the bedroom, which is famous for having one of the most beautiful stucco ceilings in the castle, is a 19th-century French tapestry depicting a shepherd couple in love.
47. "In the office, which was often called the blue office by the predominant color, the princess wrote letters, in a comfortable chair - a deck chair (in French - a long chair) the princess read the mail she received. In the corner windows and on some pieces of furniture, samples of valuable porcelain, mostly made in Meissen. On the table is a porcelain service made in the Klashtereck porcelain factory around 1850. "
48. Fireplace salon.
"In the entire castle, only in the only room in the princess's reception room is a fireplace, which is why it is called a fireplace. The fireplace was made in the 19th century from white Carrara marble. But it was used only occasionally, because the fireplace salon and two adjacent rooms were heated hot Air rose from below through openings in the walls and entered directly into the living room through beautiful grilles (to the left of the fireplace in the panels and above the fireplace). including the frame of a large mirror, also made in the workshop of Piotr Bushk, with the exception of the Renaissance bench to the right of the front door, which was made in the 16th century. of different ages: a panel depicting a preaching bishop in the middle, 16th century, a clockwork of the 18th century, and the rest The al parts were made in the workshop of Busch in the 19th century."
49. Ceiling decoration.
50. Large salon.
"The owners of the castle received their guests in this salon. They got into the room directly from the park through the glass door (in good weather). After the solemn reception, the princess with the ladies went to the salon with a fireplace, and the prince with the men went to the game room. Rich carved decorations The rooms were again made by Bushek, and motifs from the arms of the Rogan family were used on the ceiling, on the wall cladding, and on the parquet."
51. The ceiling of the large salon.
52. "The library of Sychrov Castle contains more than seven thousand volumes from the 15th to the 20th century. Foreign literature prevails here, there are very few Czech books in the library (these are the works of Karl Gynka Macha and Karolina Svetla). Among foreign writers one can meet for example, Shakespeare, Dumas the Elder, Zola, Balzac, and many others.Prince Camille of Rouen, being an avid botanist, enriched the library with a number of books on botanical subjects.
The bookcases, which are also made in the workshop of Piotr Bushk and his assistants, are too high to reach books from the upper shelves. For such a case, there is a special chair in the library, if you lower its armrests, you get a classic staircase. Next interesting exhibit is a page of a 15th-century cantorial or coats of arms on glass by Quast, which, like the coats of arms on the walls in the courtyard, were tribal signs of women who married representatives of the Rouen family. Worthy of attention is the stucco ceiling, one of the most beautiful in the castle."
53. Furniture in a large salon.
54. Ceiling in the library.
56. "The most magnificent and also the largest room on the inspection route is a large dining room. Peter Bushek and his assistants worked on the decoration of the dining room for four whole years. The result of their work is a particularly pompous carved cassette ceiling with 77 fields, again decorated with Rouen coat of arms motifs, as well as two canopies, which are part of the wall panels.On the dining table there is a porcelain service made in Gorny Slavkov, complemented by other exhibits of tableware.If necessary, the table can be moved apart with the help of additional parts and it could accommodate the 24th guest .
Six large portraits are embedded in the wall panels. Three darker portraits by Karl Yavurka represent the famous ancestors of the Rouen family: the founder of the family, Alain I, the commander Jan I and Henry II. Other famous members of the family are depicted on stained glass windows by Quast. The other three portraits represent the owners of the castle of Sychrov, who in these paintings are depicted in the robes of the knights of the Order of the Golden Fleece. "
57. Stained-glass windows with members of the Rogan clan on the windows of the large dining room.
58. The ceiling itself is a skillful work!
59. Dining table closer.
60. From the corridor you can look into the room in which the prepared food was laid out on dishes and decorated before serving them to the guests. We get to the exit by a spiral staircase, the so-called Brittany Tower.
61. Then we went to the castle treasury, it was behind a heavy and massive airtight door under the supervision of a dozen cameras) It was impossible to take pictures there, so it remains only to add that there are many luxurious gold and silver items. Let's go to the park now.
East facade of the castle, stairs. The Austrian Tower is clearly visible in the background.
62. The original Neo-Gothic castle was rebuilt in the Baroque style in 1840, when the Rohan family settled here. Duke Camille Rohan was an avid botanist and collector and focused all his interest on the park, amassing rich dendrological and botanical collections. He created a new park, building it on three main axes of space that extend from the front of the castle park. A unique path, along which pyramidal oaks stretch, goes beyond the gate and reaches the tower of the church. On the right side there is an arboretum with now non-existent greenhouses. Here is a rich collection of rare plant species, especially many varieties of oaks and beeches. Currently, the dendrological collection of the state is being updated, professional tree care is being carried out, as well as the gradual replacement of old and the addition of new trees on the oak alley.
63. Balcony of the castle.
65. Brittany clock tower, go around the castle and take a picture on it from the outside.
67. The park is just gorgeous. Clean, comfortable, and sometimes deaf and mysterious.
68. Walking along it, they suddenly came to observation deck and an obelisk with an eagle.
70. This small monument was very surprising - apparently, one of the count's favorite dogs is buried here. Spock, 1912. Unexpectedly found in a park in the distance.
71. We pass on, soon a beautiful tower appears in front of us - a water tower.
"Cylindrical in shape made of bare stone walls. From the outside, it consists of three floors. The first floor with massive stone slabs is divided by horizontal stripes. Entrance is possible by stairs, the railing of which is decorated with two huge balls. On the first floor there are box-shaped arches. The roof is conical, with a lantern in the center. This tower was built in 1891 according to the design of F. Vordren. It was an integral part of the water supply system in the castle. At the top of the tower there is a huge reservoir for water, which was supplied from the river and further spread throughout the park."
72. "The orangery is the dominant architectural form of the park. The style of this building does not fit into the Gothic character of Sychrov's buildings, as it was built in the style of the Italian Renaissance. It was designed by Joseph Prouvot, which was approved by Duke Camille Rohan in 1852." Here we had a little snack in a cafe (attention, expensive!)
73. Alpine hill.
74. Fountain with angels.
75. We return back. Passing through the courtyard of the castle, we take pictures of an old well.
76. Another fountain. Looking towards the greenhouse at the end of the long lawn.
77. Let's admire the castle goodbye from the eastern facade and hit the road.
78. In a local souvenir shop you can buy a model of the castle - I bring it here to make it clear how it looks from above from the eastern facade)
79. On a cozy road we return back to the station.
80. Quiet and calm. I remembered the movie "Far in the Neighborhood", maybe someone watched it. There are no hands on the clock and this adds a special atmosphere.
Soon a train arrived and took us back to Prague via Turnov. And we were full of impressions. The castle is just amazing!
Thank you very much site
Sychrov Castle is a corner of France in the Czech Republic. Sychrov was never military fortress. In 1690-1693. the French nobleman Lamotte d "Frintropp is building a noble estate with a turret and a chapel in the late Baroque style. For the next 150 years, the estate did not change its appearance and passed from one hand to another.
In 1820, Sikhrov bought for 650,000 gold coins an Austrian vice-marshal of French origin - Carl Alail Gabriel Rogan. Rogans were originally from Brittany, where the first mention of them can be found as early as 951. The Rogan family was one of the ten most influential noble families in France and was related to the French kings. Most of the representatives of the family occupied important political, ecclesiastical and military positions. After the Great French Bourgeois Revolution, the Rogans had to leave France, but unlike their other compatriots who fled, they did not return to their homeland later, but remained in the Czech Republic, which at that time was part of the great Austro-Hungarian Empire.
So Sychrov became the main refuge of a famous family. But the appearance did not allow the dilapidated estate to become the official residence of eminent dukes and princes. Therefore, Karl Alail Gabriel Rogan carried out the first reconstruction of the castle, which was completed in 1834.
Sychrov acquired the modern neo-Gothic appearance under his other master, the prince Philippe Rogan (full name Kamil Josef Idesbald Philip Rogan). Philip Rogan entrusted all the work exclusively to local craftsmen and artisans. Among them, a special place was Petr Bushek- a carver who dedicated his life to Sikhrov. With his creativity and rare talent, he gave the interior of the castle not only an incomparable atmosphere, but also a high artistic value. It is thanks to his unique work that Sychrov Castle is called "carved miracle" of the Czech Republic. In addition to Busek, other outstanding masters also participated in the work on the castle - sculptors Emmanuel Max and Vincenz Smolik, upholsterer Ludwig Grein, glass and ceramics painter Jan Zachary Quast, carpenter Petr König, blacksmith Jan Nowak.
Like any Czech castle Sychrov has his own legend. And even your ghost. This Black Lady(or Black Bertha) - Bertha Rogan Daughter of Charles Alain Rogan.
It is believed that it is she who appears in the castle as a ghost and is its keeper. You cannot envy the fate of this woman - she literally sacrificed her life to her family. Berta was the only child in the family, and so that the lineage would not be interrupted in the male line, she was married to her father's younger brother. The marriage was unhappy. Berta loved children very much, but she was able to give birth to an heir only at the age of 40. Unfortunately, the boy died just six months later. The inconsolable princess went mad with grief. After that, Berta wore mourning for the rest of her life - another 27 unhappy years. And in order to continue the line of the "Czech" Rogans, the couple adopted her husband's nephews. The eldest of them - Camille Rogan - later became the owner of the castle. Berta's death is shrouded in mystery - the princess was found in the morning with a dagger in her stomach. It is not known whether it was a suicide, or someone helped Bertha to leave for another world, because. she became unbearable in her old age. After her death, Princess Berta - the Black Lady began to appear frequently in the premises of the eastern wing of the castle. They say that doors open and close on their own here, suddenly it blows cold, knocks and sighs are heard, someone wanders around the castle, carries candles along the corridors, knocks on the windows. And the Black Lady always returns to its place things that someone has shifted or rearranged.
I visited Sychrov in August 2010 and April 2013 and both times different people, working in the castle, told not only about the rumors and legends associated with the ghost of the unfortunate Bertha, but also about their meetings with her. So, for example, she appeared to one woman in the mirror when she went around checking the room before closing the castle for the night. Another girl claims that several times she found the candlestick rearranged by her in the same place.
Who knows, maybe the ghost of the Black Lady really exists? But no matter how much I looked at Bertha's portrait and in the mirrors, unfortunately (or perhaps fortunately), I did not see her. Although in the castle itself, either because of the impression made by the legend, or in fact, someone's invisible presence was felt.
The era of the Rogans at Sychrov Castle ended in 1945, when the castle was nationalized by decree of President Beneš. Until now, the castle remains state-owned, but members of the Rogan family often visit Sychrov as their family estate.
In the castle you can admire the works of P. Buschek and the collection of French portraiture, which is considered the largest in Central Europe and has 242 exhibits. The portraits are dominated by images of the French nobility and legendary figures known to us from childhood from the books of Alexandre Dumas: Madame de Chevreuse, Madame de la Mote, Philippe d'Orleans, as well as representatives of the French Bourbon dynasty. Also of no less interest is the castle library, which contains more than 7 thousand volumes, including 9 manuscripts and valuable books printed before 1800.
In addition, you should pay attention to the collection of watches, weapons, porcelain figurines, sets of copper and pewter utensils, a collection of Venetian glass. Sychrov attracts not only with its inner chambers, but also with its English-style castle park, to which Prince Kamil Rogan paid special attention.
Sychrov Castle is known not only to all lovers of the mysterious and mysterious, but also to all music lovers. Sychrov was very fond of the great Czech composer Antonin Dvorak. There is a museum named after him, and an organ competition named after him is held annually in the castle chapel. We were able to listen to the Sychrov organ because our tour began with a wonderful 25-minute organ concert in the castle chapel.
