Kroměříž celebrates 25 years with UNESCO

Kroměříž celebrates 25 years with UNESCO

For a quarter of a century now, the château and its Baroque gardens have been listed as one of the world’s most valuable heritage sites!

Kroměříž celebrates 25 years with UNESCO
It is now exactly 25 years since the Archbishop's Palace in Kroměříž, with its spectacular Baroque interiors and gardens, was included on the UNESCO World Cultural and Natural Heritage List.

Titian with manuscripts by Mozart and Beethoven

From time immemorial, Kroměříž Château was the prestigious residence of the archbishops of Olomouc. Now you too have the chance to enjoy a tour of its unique interiors.  Come and admire the lavishly ornate rooms, historical furniture, the château’s well-stocked library and the unique treasures on show in the local Picture Gallery. Such as the famous Flaying of Marsyas by Titian. The château’s forty rooms and halls also include the most beautiful Rococo venue in Czechia, known as the Assembly Hall. Other exhibits include rare collections of music manuscripts with the works of Mozart and Beethoven! For the first time ever, this year visitors can walk through the Mill Gate, which links the summer quarters of the Archbishop's Palace in Kroměříž with the presbytery of the Church of Saint Maurice. It is to be used again after three hundred years – it now houses the new Museum of the Archbishop's Guard.

The colourful treasures of Kroměříž

The Park surrounding Kroměříž Château is one of the most well-preserved château gardens in the whole of Czechia. It connects the château with the centre of Kroměříž, and is the perfect place to while away a few hours admiring the beautiful scenery, as well as all the artistic features people have left here over the last 500 years. The park contains over 200 species of rare trees from various parts of Europe, America and Asia.



The Pleasure Garden, together with the Château Garden and the Archbishop's Palace, has been listed as a UNESCO heritage site since 1998. The layout and execution reflect the philosophy and aesthetics of the late 17th century and to this day its design is comparable to that of Versailles, the garden that inspired it. Nowadays it is practically the only example of this kind of park composition in Europe. The garden has recently been completely renovated, so you can again enjoy it in all its glory!

Kroměříž has something to celebrate! Are you going to join us?

Not only does this year mark 25 years since Kroměříž was listed as a UNESCO heritage site, but it’s also 760 years since the town was founded. This year, Kroměříž will be celebrating all summer long!

Concentus Moraviae (30 May)
The concert opening the international music festival will take place in the château’s newly refurbished Assembly Hall. The programme will include Ludwig van Beethoven’s Symphony No. 3, Eroica.

Music in the Gardens and Château (17 June - 30 July)
This year, the château and its gardens will host the 24th annual classical music and opera festival. You can look forward to five concerts performed in the magical setting of the Pleasure Garden, its Classicist Greenhouse, and the Baroque Rotunda.

Hortus Magicus festival (11 –13 August)
Baroque music and dance, theatre drawing on original early modern plays as well as ancient fables, a firework show following the original plans, and period games for visitors of all ages – enjoy all this more at the Hortus Magicus festival in the Pleasure Garden. Take a walk through the gorgeous Pleasure Garden on a guided tour, have fun with all the family playing some Baroque-style games, and make the most of this unique opportunity to try on some historical costumes and wear them on a stroll through the Baroque garden.

UNESCO heritage sites within easy reach

You can find some other sites proud to be listed as UNESCO heritage just an hour or two away from Kroměříž by car. The closest is Olomouc, which takes just 30 minutes along the motorway. The Holy Trinity Column is well worthy of the list! And, while you’re in Olomouc, don’t miss the chance to see the magnificent collections at the Olomouc Archdiocesan Museum. A little further away, about an hour’s drive, there’s Brno with its unique functionalist Villa Tugendhat. Still, it’s a good idea to book tours of UNESCO sights well in advance, as tickets tend to sell out long ahead of time. And a bit further to the south you’ll find another UNESCO gem, the Lednice–Valtice Cultural Landscape, the biggest composed and cultivated landscape in Central Europe.
 
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UNESCO

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