Path of Arts

Picture Gallery, Liege Hall and Cabinets, Library, Tower and Treasury

Path of Arts

Picture Gallery

The extensive and unique collection of rare paintings was established by the Bishop of Olomouc, Karel II of Liechtenstein-Castelcorn, in the second half of the 17th century. The first part of this collection – which is located in Kroměříž – consists of nerly five hundred paintings displayed in the historic halls and in the Chateau Picture Gallery, while the second part of the collection is exhibited in Archdiocesan Museum in Olomouc. The collection holds exceptional artistic value and ranks among the most significant in Europe. Within the Chateau Gallery itself, visitors can view approximately 85 selected original works by leading European painters from the Gothic period to the Rococo, including artists such as Titian and van Dyck.

The time listed is only an estimate; you can explore the art gallery at your own pace and decide for yourself how much time to spend there. The only restriction is the chateau’s opening hours.

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Chapel of St Sebastian

This private chapel, inserted into the fire-damaged areas of the castle’s second floor, was consecrated on 20 April 1766. As with the Old Library, Bishop Maximilian Hamilton commissioned the Kroměříž sculptor František Ondřej Hirnle to create the sculptures, gilded stucco decorations, and the altar. The ceiling painting was created by the Brno painter Josef Stern.

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Liege Hall and Cabinet of Coins

The institution of the liege court served to resolve disputes between the bishop’s vassals and, when it was necessary, to punish offences and crimes. The court had its seat in Kroměřiž and it assembled on set dates during the year almost continuously until the mid-19th century.

As early as the Middle Ages, a sufficiently large and representative hall must have been designated for the sessions of the manorial court, probably connected with the first episcopal residences in the town. Bishop Karel II. of Liechtenstein-Castelcorn placed this very important hall on the second floor of the castle. Like the rest of this floor, the ceilings were destroyed by fire in 1752. Restoration was initiated by Bishop Ferdinand Julius Troyer of Troyersteinen and completed by Leopold Friedrich Egkh of Hungersbach, who on 10 March 1759 entered into a contract with the painter Franz Anton Maulbertsch for the decoration of the hall ceiling, stipulating that the work was to be completed during the four summer months of that year.

The walls of the hall are covered with artificial marble – stucco lustro. The figurative and ornamental decoration of the hall was commissioned from the sculptor František Ondřej Hirnle, who also worked on the restoration of the library.

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Library

The origins of the episcopal library in Kroměříž are closely linked to the restorer of the diocese’s prestige, Bishop Karel of Liechtenstein-Castelcorn. In 1691 he signed a deed through which he donated a large portion of his property, primarily his art collections, to the Bishopric of Olomouc. At that time, the catalogue listed 4,076 volumes. The collection was to be administered by the Piarists of Kroměříž together with a librarian.

The present appearance of the library dates from the refurbishment of the chateau interiors following the great fire of March 1752. Prompt intervention at the time saved a substantial part of the library fonds. The restoration of the chateau was undertaken by Bishop Ferdinand Julius Troyer of Troyersteinen. His successor, Leopold Friedrich Egkh of Hungersbach, signed a contract on 7 April 1759 with the Brno painter Josef Stern for the decoration of the large library hall. The theme of the painting is the Apotheosis of Bishops Karel of Liechtenstein-Castelcorn as the founder of the episcopal library and Leopold Egkh as its restorer.

Today, the fonds of all the chateau libraries in Kroměříž comprise of around 60,000 volumes, more than 400 manuscripts, and nearly 200 incunabula.

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Tower and Treasury

The dominant feature not only of the Archbishop’s Chateau but of the whole town of Kroměříž is the Chateau Tower, which reaches a height of 84 metres. The gallery is located at a height of 40 metres and leading to it is a staircase with 206 steps (140 spiral sandstone steps, followed by a wooden staircase). There is no alternative route to the top other than climbing these steps. In favourable weather, the Castle Tower offers magnificent views not only of the town and its nearby surroundings but also of the Jeseníky Mountains, the Javorníky range, and the Chřiby Hills.

Treasury

This room, like the Renaissance chateau itself, dates from the episcopate of Stanislav Thurzo, Bishop of Olomouc (1496–1540), and is dated and is dated approximately to the year 1500. It forms part of the tower and it is situated above the barrel-vaulted passage (a late Gothic portal) on the upper floor. The room is adorned with an elaborate eight-pointed star rib vault, which was inserted into the second story of the tower at a later date, probably during the Renaissance reconstruction. During the Renaissance, the walls were covered with frescoes, indicating that this was an important space that may have served as a chapel.

Duration of the tour

Approximately 80 minutes, self-guided
Capacity: 20 persons

Price list

Standard
Reduced
Family

Path of Arts 1

450 Kč
300 Kč
1 200 KčBuy ticket

1Self-guided

Reduced admission: children up to 15 years, students up to 26 years with a valid student card / ISIC, seniors over 65 years, holders of a Senior Pass, holders of a disability card (ZTP and ZTP/P, including one accompanying person), children under 6 free of charge

Family ticket: 2 adults and 2–3 children up to 15 years, holders of a Family Pass

Advance booking is required for groups of more than 15 persons.