Smiřice, Baroque château in Smiřice, Czech Republic
Smiřice is a château in Smiřice near Hradec Králové, formed by rebuilding a medieval fortress. The fortress, first mentioned in 1392, became the eastern wing, which was extended around a rectangular courtyard in the mid-16th century in Renaissance style. The early Baroque Chapel of the Epiphany, built 1696–1699, is connected to the château.
The fortress at Smiřice was first mentioned in 1392 and belonged to the Smiřický family until 1476; from 1498 it was held by the Trčka family, who had it rebuilt in Renaissance style around the mid-16th century. In 1661 Antonín Pankrác Gallas acquired the estate and had the château altered in early Baroque style; in 1685 it was sold to Isabele Magdalena Šternberková, and during her son Jan Josef's ownership farm buildings were added. The Chapel of the Epiphany was built in 1696–1699 and linked to the château.
The chapel is dedicated to the Epiphany and was built between 1696 and 1699, then linked directly to the château. Since 1995 it has been a national cultural monument of the Czech Republic, while the château itself is a protected cultural monument. The two buildings form one connected complex around the courtyard.
The château is located north of Hradec Králové and can be reached by road and rail connections. Visitors should check in advance whether the grounds are open and what visiting times apply.
The chapel is linked directly to the château, so the two buildings form one connected complex. The château itself is protected as a cultural monument, while the Chapel of the Epiphany has been a national cultural monument since 1995. The château appears in a veduta of 1823 by Jan Antonín Venuto.
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