Pelhřimov (chateau)

In the place of today's castle and city fortifications, there used to be a Gothic fortress, probably from the 15th century, whose torso has been preserved in the Gothic Hall on the ground floor of the current castle. From 1550, the chateau was owned by the lords of Říčany of Říčany, while Adam of Říčany began the construction of a Renaissance chateau in the same year, which was completed in 1551.

In 1561, a large fire caught the town and was then rebuilt. During the second half of the 17th century, the seat was converted into a town hall and after another fire, which hit the building in 1766, it was renovated in the spirit of the late Baroque, while the form it acquired at that time has basically been preserved to this day.

Beginning in 1849, the District Court housed the chateau until 1907. The following year, the exposition of the District Museum was installed here, which is still housed in the chateau and the exposition of the Vysočina Museum. Undoubtedly, the important gems of the exhibition include the illuminated Utraquist gradual from the 15th century, the banner painted by Josef Mánes and historical costumes. The castle tower is decorated with an astronomical clock.

The two-storey castle building has two wings and a mansard roof with a prismatic turret, while the original tower has been preserved at the corner of both wings. The castle facade, which is divided by pilasters, opens towards the square. In the niches of the facade there are statues of Orphan Protection and Justice, in the area in front of the castle there is a statue of St. Wenceslas.

Author: Andrea Štyndlová