Heřmanův Městec (chateau)
The town of Heřmanův Městec can be found to the west of Chrudim and there is a relatively large chateau directly built in the Baroque style. Although it currently serves as a retirement home and its interiors are not open to the public, at least the exteriors and also the beautiful English park that surrounds the chateau are definitely worth a visit.
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Interesting facts Heřmanův Městec (chateau)
The building of the current chateau is located in the places where the town fortress used to be, built in the 14th century and since 1591 has been referred to as a chateau in historical sources. However, it was burned down in 1623 by the imperial troops.
The Renaissance chateau had the form of a representative residence with a courtyard, which was surrounded on three sides by arcades. In 1784, however, Count Václav Špork had it rebuilt, arranged a large kitchen, built four stables, a large hall, a dining room and twelve cellars. It can be said that the reconstruction of the chateau imprinted a form that has survived to the last day.
In 1876, already under the owners of the Kinský princes, another reconstruction was started, which also included the demolition of the paddler's building with the brewery and the U černého orla inn. In 1890, the Heřmanův Městec chateau was supplemented with a winter garden and one of the wings facing the park was built. Another, the west wing, was added only in 1930. On the west side of the castle was a dining room on the ground floor, equipped with tapestries and wooden ceilings, and decorated by the Viennese master Grűn. It is definitely worth mentioning the local library, which includes German, English and French works.
In 1945, the castle in Heřmanov Městec housed the general staff of the German army and the local park served as an airport. Quite soon after, the castle was occupied by the Red Army and until 1948 it was the summer residence of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The retirement home in the local chateau has been located since 1952.
The chateau has a relatively complex floor plan and the division of the facades is conceived in the Neo-Baroque style. The dominant feature of the northwest corner is the hexagonal neo-Gothic tower, built in 1850, and the entrance risalit is decorated with a triangular gable with the emblem of the Kinský family. The charm of this place is undoubtedly added by the aforementioned English park, built by Šporky in 1784. It freely connects to the forest park and houses a natural theater.
Author: Andrea Štyndlová