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Lednice-Valtice Cultural Landscape

Eng Lednice-Valtice Cultural Landscape. The romantic chateau Lednice is situated in the extensive natural area on the embankment of the Dyje River. Originally a Gothic fortified settlement was located there, mentioned as early as 1222, which Prince Přemysl donated to the Lichtenstein family. Lednice was their residential place till the end of World War II with only one short break. In the 16th century, the settlement was rebuilt into a Renaissance chateau. In the late 17th century, the Viennese architect J.B.Fischer rebuilt it in the Baroque style. The Neo-Gothic reconstruction in the Tudor style from 1846-58 gave the chateau its present-day appearance. The architect of the reconstruction was Jiří Wingelmüller. Baroque walls remained mostly preserved; facades were remade and many new architectural elements were added, such as battlements, balconies, parlors, chimneys and little spires. Also, the interiors received a Romantic Neo-Gothic overhaul complete with rich woodcarvings. Besides the chateau exposition, there is the Agricultural Museum, which boasts a rare head of a mammoth.

The Valtice Chateau is situated at the place of the castle of the Passau bishop from the late 12th century. In 1395, the Lichtenstein family also bought this place, rebuilt the castle several times and in the 16th century the castle was rebuilt in the style of Mannerism. During the Thirty Years’ War, the Swedish military forces damaged the chateau several times; the damaged objects were later completely rebuilt into the recent Baroque residence. The reconstruction lasted up to 1730 and several renowned artists of that time, such as J.B.Fischer of Erlach, A. Ern and J.K.Ern, D.Martinelli and others, participated.

The Lichtenstein family had been working for centuries on creating a unified landscape complex of the two chateaus. An alley was made between the two mansions. The Lednice Chateau complex was complemented by ostentatious buildings of the riding school, minaret in the Moorish style by architect Josef Hardtmuth and a greenhouse according to the model of the London winter garden.

In the 19th century, in the period of Romanticism, the Lednice-Valtice complex got its present-day appearance. Several Romantic buildings were built in the English park, such as The Apollon´s Temple, the Temple of the Three Graces in the Empire style, and at the former Czech-Austrian border, the Border Chateau. In 1996, the Lednice-Valtice complex was included in the UNESCO list of world cultural and natural heritage sites.

There have been many disputes about the origin of the minaret. Alois Liechtenstein originally wished to build a church, but could not get any land from the municipality for the construction. He decided to build the symbol of Islam on his estate in revenge. The minaret is the oldest preserved lookout tower in the Czech Republic, and it belongs among the highest buildings of its type in a non-Islamic country.

Rus Ледницко-Валтицкий комплекс – это территория общей площадью 200 км2, т.е. один из самых обширных искуственно созданных ландшафтных ансамблей в мире. Владельцы поместья из рода Лихтенштейнов потратили столетия, чтобы превратить свои угодья в один огромный парк. С южным, геометрическим с безукоризненно четкими линиями французским садом соседствует северный английский парк. По территории комплекса раскинула свои широкие рукава река Дыя.

На северной стороне расположен замок Леднице (основной стиль – английская тюдоровская готика), на южной – замок Валтице (резиденция в стиле барокко), а между ними – семикилометровые аллеи, соединяющие обе эти лихтенштейнские резиденции, вокруг которых раскинулся парк с небольшими садовыми постройками и ландшафтными композициями в романтическом духе на фоне пейзажей в стиле английских парков. Английский парк плавно переходит в свободный естественный пейзаж, в который включаются рукава реки Дые, несколько прудов, а также ряд построек в стиле ампир – павильоны, беседки, храмы, художественные «руины», искусственные пещеры, минарет со смотровой площадкой, акведук и мн.др.