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České Středohoří (Bohemian Highlands) - Czech republic

České středohoří (B.Hills) are situated in northern Bohemia along both banks of lower stream of Czech part of Elbe. It belongs to Podkrušnohorská Area, being part of Ore Mountain Subprovince. Typical conical hills are result of Tertiary Formation volcanic activity. The highest peak names Milešovka (837 m).

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Lokalities

Ploskovice

Locality type:
Castles

Place:
okres Litoměřice

Baroque chateau of Ploskovice, surrounded with enlarged park , is to be found in the community of the same name, in a distance of 5 kms approx. from the town of Litoměřice. Together with Libochovice chateau, it belongs to most visited and most popular chateaux of Bohemian Highlands.

First written notice about the community comes of 11th century. In 1188, Johanits Order came here, and founded their branch here. At the end of 15th century, Adam Ploskovsky of Drahonice arrived and seated here. However, there broke out an indignation wave of servitudes against him shortly, and the uprising started. Leader of servants´ part, Dalibor of Kozojedy, was in 1498 taken into prison in a tower of Prague Castle, and later, in 1498, executed. Further owners of Ploskovice dominion, there was Vřesovice Family. They let to rebuilt the old stronghold in a chateau of Renaissance style. However, they lost their ownership during confiscation after White Hill battle. Later, there were changed several owners of dominion in question. Nevertheless, its late Baroque face obtained the chateau within 1720-1725. At that time, the castle was in possession of Ann Mary Franziska Tuscany of Saxonia-Lauenburg Parentage, wife of Gaston, Tuscany Granduca, last member of Medici Parentage. The reconstruction was made by Octavio Broggio and Kilian Ignatz Dientzenhofer. Ceiling pictures are works of Wenceslas Lawrence Reiner. In 1805, the dominion came into private ownership of Tuscany branch of Habsburgs. Since 1849, the chateau became a summer seat of Austrian Emperor Ferdinand I.Habsburg, or last Bohemian crowned King Ferdinand V. Gracious. Within 1850-1853, the chateau was, under inspection of architects J.Bělsky and Joseph Pokorny, arranged on Rococco style and increased in one floor. Since 1918, the castle belongs to the state, and served as a summer seat of Czechoslovak Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The place visited quite often Minister Edvard Beneš with his wife. In period of 2nd World War, when Ploskovice was in German area (German Third Reich), there was here a seat of school for young Nazis – Napola.

To basic cylindrical building, there are joined arcade galleries in a form of crayfish claws, with agricultural buildings at its corners. In groundfloor, there are to be found Baroque artificial grottas with shell fountains and statues of Atlants Giants. Round the chateau, there is placed Baroque garden of 8 ha extention, originally planned as small Versailles, including pond, bassin and original gloriet in Baroque style. Interior installation is of renovation time period - from middle of 19th century. It has the atmosphere of summer stays of pensioned Emperor´s couple. To most interesting rooms of the first floor, (where we can admire interiors of Rococco and Neo-Classical style) belong representative two-storeyed hall with cupola, richly decorated with frescos. In the second floor, there is a picture-gallery with works of Bohemian countryside Picture and an exposition presenting cultural life during Habsburg era in Bohemia. It is also worth to see the china (porcellain), glass as well as pictures collections, added with statue decorations, worked by Wenceslas Levý.