The Baroque

The Baroque
BARO Q UE
Baroque is...
...when colorful decoration of churches makes your head spin,
...when sculptured figures cry or are happy – as if they were alive,
...when palaces dazzle by their monumentality,
...when several melodies form a fascinating harmony - like in the music of J. S. Bach,
...when you see a small chapel next to the road and – for that moment – you stop seeing the
world around.
Baroque in the World
Baroque in the Czech Lands
The Baroque as a new artistic movement was born in the late
16th century in Italy, where, at the time, the Catholic Church
was building its residence in the Vatican.
The Baroque extended in the early 17th century to
Bohemia, although it only became more prominent after
the Thirty Years War.
The best Italian artists, among them also the famous
Michelangelo, during their work on decorations of the Pope's
residence started to seek for new ways of expressing their
deep emotional relationship with God and capturing
movement and lightness in their work. And above all - how to
impress.
As a leading direction of culture and art it survived for a long
time, practically until the second half of the 18th century, and
as well as elsewhere in Central Europe it had changed
significantly the form of urban, rural and natural landscape.
During the 17th century, the Baroque spread from Europe
to overseas colonies (especially in Latin and South
America) and became an important part of their cultural
history.
The Baroque left us an extraordinary legacy of monuments
- churches, monasteries, pilgrimage sites, palaces, castles,
but also modest chapels and statues along the roads. Even
today, we can visit festivals of Baroque music and the
galleries are adorned by many paintings of the best masters
|
of Baroque painting.
2 z 99
B A R O QUE
THE BEST OF BAROQUE
The Age of Miracles
After one of the worst wars in history, Europe takes a breath of new life.
Perhaps nowhere else but in Bohemia does such vigorous building activity take
place. The towns get a new face, and so do villages and the and landscape.
The most important monuments of the Czech Baroque period include
beautifully decorated churches, monumental palaces, gardens full of colourful
flowers, precious sculptures and also a uniquely preserved theatre. The
extremely rich Baroque era is relived even today through many festivities and
music and theater festivals.
|
3 z 99
B A R O QUE
The Best of Baroque – An Overview
KUTNÁ HORA
PRAGUE
OLOMOUC
KUKS
KROMĚŘÍŽ
|
4 z 99
B A R O QUE
The Best of Baroque – An Overview
VA LT I C E
ČESKÝ KRUMLOV
MIKULOV
ZELENÁ HORA
HOLAŠOVICE
6 z 99
B A R O QUE
PRAGUE / THE MIRACULOUS RECOVERY
After it was looted by Swedish armies, Prague is enjoying an unprecedented boom of
building activity. The Baroque era creates an entirely new impression on the city's face.
The Charles Bridge damaged by the Swedes is
embellished with new sculptures.
All around Prague, dozens of new churches are erected.
The most beautiful one, built by Christopher Dientzenhofer,
will stand in Malá Strana (the Lesser Town).
|
7 z 99
B A R O QUE
THE STORIES OF BAROQUE PRAGUE
The nobility built new palaces surrounded by
gardens. One of the most imposing is the
Wallenstein Palace in Malá Strana (the Lesser
Town).
Jaroslav Bořita of Martinice, the royal vice-regent
thrown out of the window of the Prague Castle in
1618, is also just about finished with the building of
his palace. It has the same layout as the Royal
Palace, from where he defenestrated during the
revolution; only the scale is halved.
The statuette of Prague Infant Jesus miraculously
survived the war and Swedish looting. The news of
Infant’s miraculous powers spread around the
world and thousands of pilgrims come to visit the
statuette in Prague.
The Jesuit Order, invited to Bohemia to promote the
Catholic faith, is committed to the development of
education and builds the Clementinum, with the
oldest meteorological station in the country.
|
7 z 99
B A R O QUE
K U T N Á H O R A / THE MAGICAL CATHEDRAL
The reconstruction of the
monastery church was
entrusted by the Cistercians to
the young architect Jan Blažej
Santini-Aichel. In his first
monumental work, Santini
perfectly combines the
elements of Gothic and
Baroque styles to build a
cathedral which does not have
an equal in the rest of Europe.
|
8 z 99
B A R O QUE
THE STORY OF J A N B L A Ž E J S A N T I N I
Santini was born lame and partially
paralyzed. Therefore, he could not
take over his father's stonemasonry
workshop.
After returning from a trip to Europe and doing smaller work, he is
recommended by the Zbraslav Cistercian abbot Wolfgang II. Lochner to his
colleague in Sedlec. By rebuilding the local church, Santini transformed the
existing perception of the Baroque architecture.
The exquisite details, references to numerical symbolism and the perfect feel
for light and acoustics make the visit to the cathedral a remarkable
experience.
Near the cathedral, Santini also
rebuilds the All Saints Church, which
is one of the most impressive
ossuaries in the world.
|
10 z 99
B A R O QUE
K U K S / THE ISLAND OF BAROQUE ART
The belief in miraculous
healing power of the springs
gave rise to one of the most
interesting Baroque
complexes in Central Europe.
The landscape composition
using the terrain along the
Elbe, statues of the Virtues
and Vices by Matthias Braun
and the unique Baroque
pharmacy - these are only the
main attractions of Kuks.
|
10 z 99
B A R O QUE
THE STORY OF COUNT ŠPORK
The eccentric Count Špork turned Kuks into a centre of community life. He
invited the best architects and artists of that time. Besides the spaces for
worldly pleasures, Kuks was to be also a place to help the needy –
therefore a hospital for war veterans and pharmacy were built here.
|
11 z 99
B A R O QUE
O L O M O U C / THE SPIRITUAL CENTRE OF MORAVIA
Olomouc becomes the most
important ecclesiastical seat of
Moravia. The miraculous end of the
plague provides an impetus for the
erection of the Plague Column of the
Holy Trinity, the largest sculptural
group in the Czech Republic. The era
of extraordinary development is
concluded by the advancement of
the city to the seat of the Archbishop.
|
12 z 99
B A R O QUE
THE STORY OF BAROQUE OLOMOUC
One of the most important events in Olomouc is the
festival celebrating the appointment of Count Troyer as the
Bishop of Olomouc. The painting depicting the festive
procession and the bishop's golden carriage are - along
with many other artistic treasures - on display at the
museum in the Archbishop's Palace.
|
13 z 99
B A R O QUE
K R O M Ě Ř Í Ž / T H E M O S T B E AT I F U L G A R D E N
Former marshland miraculously turned
into one of the most beautiful gardens in
the world is now a UNESCO heritage
site. During the Baroque period, the
summer residence of the Olomouc
bishops in Kroměříž, literally blossomed
into a number of gardens and parks,
and became the "Czech Versailles."
|
14 z 99
B A R O QUE
FROM MARSHES TO A UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE
The Italians Filiberto Lucchese and
Giovanni Pietro Tencalla transformed
an unsightly marsh near the
Kroměříž Castle into a veritable work
of art. The Flower Garden is unique
mainly because it has never been
fundamentally
changed
by
reconstruction.
At the same time, new gardens are
also created directly at the Kroměříž
Castle. The bishops of Olomouc
also pursue art collecting, seeking to
expand their collection. A precious
painting by Titian, Apollo and
Marsyas, is added to the collection
and becomes the pride of the castle
gallery.
|
15 z 99
B A R O QUE
VALTICE, MIKULOV
T H E B A R O Q U E I N T H E W I N E C O U N T RY
Two powerful
families - two
exceptional Baroque
mansions.
The Dietrichstein and
Liechtenstein
families
fundamentally
changed the
landscape of South
Moravia, where for
centuries, the best
Czech wine is grown.
|
16 z 99
B A R O QUE
PICTURESQUE SOUTH MORAVIA SCENERIES
The Lednice-Valtice Complex is an exceptional
example of a cultural landscape. The present
complex of ponds, pavilions and small buildings
originated in the 19th century, however the
landscaping started by the Liechtenstein family,
already in the Baroque period. A visit to the
cellars of the chateau in Valtice succintly
explains why Valtice is the Czech capital of
wine.
Cardinal Dietrichstein, as an expression of
gratitude to God for overcoming the plague
epidemic, build a Calvary with a Saint
Sebastian chapel on Svatý Kopeček (Holy Hill)
near Mikulov. This magical place has attracted
thousands of pilgrims for centuries – for the
Marian pilgrimage celebrating the statue of the
Black Madonna, which Dietrichstein brought
from the Italian Loreto.
|
17 z 99
B A R O QUE
Z E L E N ÁH O R A / MORE THAN ARCHITECTURE
Jan Blažej Santini Aichel elevated his
architectural works to spiritual
experience. He incorporated many
symbols and references to the numeral 5
into the pilgrimage site on Zelená Hora
(Green Mountain), a complex of buildings
merged into a perfectly functional whole.
|
18 z 99
B A R O QUE
THE MASTER OF SYMBOLS
The church of St. John of Nepomuk is so
interweaved with symbolism and still
fascinates experts on architecture and
mysticism.
|
20 z 99
B A R O QUE
Č E S K ÝK R U M L O V / T H E A T R I C A L M I R A C L E S
You will find nothing like this elsewhere
in the world. The impressive castle in
Český Krumlov conceals a real jewel the oldest Baroque theatre in the world
with fully functional facilities.
|
20 z 99
B A R O QUE
HOW WAS THE BAROQUE THEATER PRESENTED ?
Let‘s peek behind
the curtain of the
Baroque theatre.
In Český Krumlov,
the hand-painted
scenery,
sophisticated stage
control system and
the apparatus for
creating sound
effects such as
thunderstorm and
hail have been
beautifully
preserved.
|
21 z 99
B A R O QUE
H O L A Š O V I C E / THE PICTURESQUE FOLK BAROQUE
When Baroque was replaced in the
cities by an altogether different
fashion, people in the villages did
not like the new style. And so,
inspired by rounded shapes and
Baroque adornment, the farmers
began to improve their farm houses.
Thus, a completely unique
phenomenon of Folk Baroque was
born. No wonder it is said that the
South Bohemian villages are the
most picturesque in the world.
|
22 z 99
B A R O QUE
CZECH FOLK TRADITIONS
South Bohemia is not only ideal for exploring the folk traditions and crafts; since
the Middle Ages, the region is a renowned fishing area, and Czech cuisine
specialties are definitely worth tasting.
|
23 z 99
B A R O QUE
Products / Events / Activities
PRAGUE
KUTNÁ HORA
KU KS
Following Santini; Prague circuit; Wallenstein (Valdštejn)
circuit
Bohemian Carnevale; Prague Spring; St. John
Navalis festivities; summer festivals of old
music
Exhibitions; monuments; concerts in Baroque churches
International music festival; Kutná Hora
Summer; Kutná Hora Theatre Festival
Tours of Kuks Hospital, church and garden
Traditional cuisine in local taverns; gallery visits;
ossuary tour
Theatrum Kuks; Garden Fairs in Kuks; Kuks Musical
Spring; Runs through the Králův Dvůr region; Advent
fair in Kuks; vintage (wine harvest) festival in Kuks
Kuks garden picnic; forest trails to see the Braun‘s
statues; farm tourism in Eastern Bohemia
|
24 z 99
B A R O QUE
Products / Events / Activities
OLOMOUC
In Santini‘s Footsteps trail
Olomouc Baroque festivities; Olomouc Christmas
and Easter fairs
Traditional cuisine of Haná (Taste Haná)
KROMĚŘÍŽ
In Santini‘s Footsteps trail
(Moravian circuit)
Zlín Region harvest festival; festival Hortus
Magicus
Picnic in the garden; visit Castle Gallery with Tizian;
search for the treasure of Bishop Bruno
VA LT I C E / M I K U L O V
Moravian wine trails; In Santini‘s Footsteps trail
Concert cycle Hencke‘s Baroque organ; International
summer school of old music; Moravian Parnas of
Johann Georg Gettner; Marian pilgrimage to Svatý
kopeček (Holy Hill)
Wine tasting, wine harvest, cycling vacation
|
26 z 99
B A R O QUE
Products / Events / Activities
ZELENÁ HORA
ČESKÝ KRUMLOV
HOLAŠOVICE
Baroque art from the collections of the National
Gallery in Prague; In Santini‘s Footsteps trail
Festival of Baroque Art Český Krumlov
Bicycle trail through the Baroque landscape of
Libějovice and Lomec.
Country Fair; Kubata festival
XXI. International music festival of 13 cites; Concerts in
the Baroque halls of the Žďár Castle; Monastery night at the
Žďár Castle
Concerts; hiking in the Highlands
Boating on the Vltava River; theatre with a
rotating auditorium
Cycling among the ponds; gourmet experiences –
traditional cuisine; learning about folk traditions
|
27 z 99
B A R O QUE
Products / Events / Activities (top stories)
PRAGUE
KUTNÁ HORA
VA LT I C E
In Santini‘s Footsteps trail;; Prague circuit; Valdštejn
circuit
Bohemian Carnevale; Prague Spring; St. John
Navalis festivities; Summer old music festivals
Kutná Hora International music festival; Kutná
Hora Summer; Kutná Hora Theatre Festival
Moravian wine trails; In Santini‘s Footsteps trail
Concert cycle - Hencke‘s Baroque organ;
International summer school of old music; Moravian
Parnas of Johann Georg Gettner; Marian pilgrimage
to Svatý kopeček (Holy Hill)
Wine tasting, vine harvest, cycling vacation,
farm tourism
Exhibitions; monuments; concerts in Baroque churches
Traditional cuisine in local taverns; gallery visits;
ossuary tour
,
|
27 z 99