Chateau

Official web: https://www.zamek-telc.cz/en
 
In the second part of the 14th century the barons of Hradec built a Gothic castle in Telč, which was a simple building in an “L” shape that had first of all defending features, and was fortified by a wall and moat, even in the direction opposite the town. From 1550 Zachariáš of Hradec permanently resided in Telč and he had the old castle rebuilt and widened with a newly built Renaissance palace. The first stage of reconstruction was lead by the well-known architect Leopold Estreicher of Slavonice. From those days the rage sgraffito decorations of e. g. the small banqueting hall and of the treasury have been preserved. Other works were done under the supervision of the Italian artists whom Zachariáš used to invite to Telč during his tours of Italy where he was strongly influenced by the Italian Renaissance art. The completion of the general appearance of the Telč architecture was assigned to Baldassare Maggi of Arogno.

The original condition of most of the castle rooms was not impaired by the later castle owners either:  Slavatas 1604 – 1693, Lichtenstein-Kastelkorn 1693 – 1762 and Podstatsky – Lichtenstein 1762 – 1945.
The most remarkable rooms of the Telč castle are the Renaissance halls with beautiful wooden panel ceilings. In the Theatre Hall the ceiling is formed by the panels containing painted masquers (completed in 1556). In the ceiling of the Knight Hall (1570) you will see the acts of Hercules (this painting is assigned to Raimund Paul). The Blue Hall, finished in 1561, contains the allegory of four elements personified by the Roman gods. The ceiling of the famous Golden Hall consists of 30 octagonal panels with impressive figurative wooden carvings (1561).
The most important artistic monument is also the stucco decoration of the Chapel of All Saint (1580) with the marble grave stone to Zachariáš and Kateřina surrounded by a decorative wrought grille.
With regard to the precious objects on display, you should pay particular attention to the Renaissance jewel-box with the inlaid works dating from 1566, to the armour which is situated in the Knight Hall and dates from the 15th and 16th centuries and to the collection of fire arms containing beautifully decorated rifles from the 17th century.
In this hall you will also find the portraits of Zachariáš of Hradec, of his first wife Kateřina of Valdštejn and the one of famous “White Lady” Perchta of Rožmberk.

In the Blue Hall you can see the picture of Prague defenestration during which the then-owner of Telč, Vilém Slavata was thrown out of Prague Castle window. Rare portraits of Zachariáš´s parents, Anna and Adam which were painted by Jacob Sweiseneger can be seen in the Golden Hall.

The second exhibition route leads through the flat of the last castle owners, the Podstatsky-Lichtensteins. Its furnichings, mostly in their original conditions, represent a significant testimony of the appearance of noble interiors. Among some very interesting exhibits special attention should be paid to the jewel-box from the 17th century, to the collection of historical faiences and to other beautiful works of art. The greenhouse constructed in the Classicist style you will find in the park of the chateau (second quater of the 19th century).
In the premises of chateau you will also find a branch of the Museum of Highlands. The Telč Museum founded in 1886 is the oldest one within the region of south-west Moravia. Along with the outstanding exhibits of the museum there belongs also a large model of the town dating from 1890, a movable Christmas crib, rich collections that are not only ethnographic, but also historical and archaeological.