Jánský Vrch Chateau – Description

Description

The chateau grounds are composed of the chateau itself (original Gothic castle from the end of the 14th century later reconstructed as a chateau), the external lookout courtyard (1799-1800, designed by J.G. Krug), house with entrance hall (built in 1798 according to design by J.G. Krug), farm buildings (Classicist structures from 1801), the Eichendorf observatory (observatory from 1869, granite bench from 1936 was built in memory of the stay here by the German Romantic poet Josef Eichendorf in 1856-1857), two entrance gates to the chateau grounds (end of the 19th century), Classicist arbour (circa 1780) in the decorative garden, fountains and springs (fountain with gargoyle in the form of a lion’s maw from 1846, fountain of St. Francis from 1939-1940, spring of Walter von der Vogelweid from 1931, commemorating the 700th anniversary of the death of the medieval poet and minnesingers, the spraying fountain from 1851), residential buildings (House No. 64 from the end of the 18th century, House No. 68 from 1801), the staircase leading to the northern chateau gate (1861), and the chateau park (created gradually from 1775 through the 19th and 20th centuries).

History

The establishment of the upland castle on Jánský Vrch in Javorník dates to the end of the 14th century, even though the first written record of the castle in Javorník comes from 1307. The preserved remains of the Gothic “bergrift” (cylindrical safehold tower serving as the potential final shelter castle defenders) are from the end of the 14th century. According to preserved reports the Javorník chateau was invaded by the Hussites in 1428 and ownership was taken over by the Vratislav bishops in 1432. The castle was purchased by Konrád Olešnický, but was subsequently razed to prevent it from falling into enemy hands. Reconstruction was commenced at the end of the 15th century and was completed at the beginning of the 16th century by Vratislav Bishop Jan Thurza, who used the structure as his second residence. The building also gained its current name in this period (taken from John the Baptist, patron of the Vratislav Diocese). In 1616-1617 a Renaissance palace was built in the lower courtyard. Javorník was twice occupied by the Swedes during the Thirty Years War, but the castle was not significantly damaged.

On the initiative of Bishop Filip Gotthard Schaffgotsche the structure underwent substantial reconstruction in 1755-1757. The result was a Baroque chateau with a decorative garden; the bergrift was torn down and the remains were used for building a concert hall with an oval floor plan with an external diameter of 12 metres.This reconstruction contributed greatly to the current appearance of the chateau.

Following his forced departure from Vratislav Bishop Schaffgotsche made the renovated chateau his residence in 1766. Jánský Vrch thus became an important cultural centre, and staying at the chateau, among others, was the renown musical composer, violinist, and conductor Karel Ditters von Dittersdorf (one of the founders of German comic opera, he lived at the chateau for nearly 30 years), who established a chateau band.

The modifications conducted by Bishop Hohenloh-Waldenburg-Barnstein at the turn of the 19th century also heavily influenced today’s appearance of the chateau. The courtyards were modified (the lower courtyard and the outer courtyard), the main gate was relocated to the southwestern part of the expanded outer courtyard, several extensions were taken down, the lower park, the central park, and the decorative gardens were founded, and farm buildings and employee quarters were built. Reconstruction also took place under later bishops.The Vratislav bishops owned the chateau until 1945, and in 1984, following the settlement between the Czech and Polish Catholic Churches, the Czechoslovak government took over ownership of the chateau.

The chateau structure

The ground plan of the chateau approximates an oval shape, and near the centre of the oval the structure is divided by a wall into northern and southern parts. The partition wall in conjunction with buildings in both parts of the chateau form two interior courtyards – the southern “upper” courtyard, and the northern “lower” courtyard. The dominant feature of the northern part of the chateau is the late-Renaissance tower; in the southern part of the chateau the dominant feature is remains of the Gothic bergrift (oval safehold tower) from the 13th century with connected parts of the original fortifications from the 15th and 16th centuries. Two modern wings were added to the northeast and southwest parts of the old peripheral chateau walls, and the left part of the northeast wing is formed by the main staircase. Two square towers are situated on the western façade of the chateau.

The interior spaces of the chateau were created through modern renovations of the residential areas, mainly with flat ceilings; rooms on the ground floor of the northern part of the chateau feature barrel vaulted ceilings. A number of rooms contain the preserved original furnishings, the majority from the 19th century. The chateau interior includes a neo-Gothic chapel with star vaults, a painted Baroque music hall from the end of the 18th century on the first floor of the chateau, which was created using remnants of the cylindrical Gothic tower, as well as music and Rococo salons, a meeting hall, a billiards hall, and others.

The Jánský Vrch Chateau incorporates various architectural styles documenting the construction development progression of the structure. The dominant position of the chateau (on a promontory over the town), the architectural and town planning design, including the chateau park, as well as the collection of historical objects give the site an important and substantial monumental value.

Additional points of interest

Decorative features of the chateau chapel.
The chapel features a Baroque altar with Renaissance panel paintings of saints (mid-16th century), the late-Gothic statues of St. Helen and St. Barbara, and the late-Gothic sculpture of the Madonna (first quarter of the 16th century).

The collection of pipes and smoking accessories.
The collection contains approximately 1200 objects, including pipes from the 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries from Europe, the Americas, Africa, and the Orient. This collection is the largest of its kind in the Czech Republic.

Commemorative plaques.
An early-Renaissance commemorative plaque with the crest of Jan Thurza dating to 1509 is located in the passageway between the interior courtyards. The sandstone plaque features relief ornamental floral motifs and the coat of arms of the 16th century castle renovator, Vratislav Bishop Jan Thurza, held by two harpies. Another commemorative plaque dates to 1505 and features the crest of Jan Thurza, who is depicted as a kneeling builder with the family coat of arms being blessed by St. John the Baptist, the patron saint of the Vratislav Diocese. This plaque also commemorates the efforts of Jan Thurza in renovating the castle. The sculpture Francesco Fiorentino is credited with creating both plaques. The final commemorative plaque features the crest of Filip Gotthard Shaffgotsche and is situated on the penultimate landing of the main chateau staircase. This commemorative plaque from 1767 contains the crest of Vratislav Bishop Fillip Gotthard Shaffgotsche as well as the text explaining his expulsion from Vratislav, his travels for several years, and finally the establishment of his residence at Jánský Vrch.

Text: Jindřich Garčic

Sources:
Filipová, M: The Jánský Vrch Chateau in Javorník. Šumperk 1985
List of Cultural Monument Structures in the Jeseník District. Olomouc 2001
www.hrady-zamky.cz/zamek-jansky _vrch/

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