CZ, Kromeriz – Charming Beauty II

We parked our four-wheeled stallion on Hanacke square. Formerly, there were military barracks. This square is a zone of rest these days. There are good benches, a children playground, and a fountain. We leaved the square for the city center next. On our way, we crossed Milicovo sqaure with a fountain, and historical buildings, and 19th century Nadsklepi cinema  building being prime example of square's architecture.

Masaryk square, and part of Rieger square were what we visited next. The latter being the oldest square in the city is named after politician and National Party founder Frantisek Ladislav Rieger. He lived on this square in one of the town houses. Baroque church of The Assumption of the Virgin Mary is the main landmark on the square. Another important sight here is the baroque fountain, and Holy Trinity Marian column completed in 1725. The baroque deanery is worth seeing as well.

First, let's get back to the aforementioned Masaryk square. It seems more spatial and the baroque church of St John the Baptist is distinct landmark here. The church is one of the most important sacral 18th century landmarks in Moravia. The church is over 42 meters long, 15 meters wide, the dome is 35 meters high. Right next ot the church, there is the Justice academy built in the neorenaissance style. Before it, there is a statue of T. G. Masaryk.

Janska street runs beginning at the church. The street is one of the best parts of the city. Its colorful houses are amazing, the same goes for stone blazons on houses' facades, bar doors, or richly decorated portals. The building of the Piaristic secondary school is trully monumental. Next to it, there is the Lichtenstein seminary. The native house of national artist Maxmilian Svabinsky is quite the opposite to the aforementioned buildings.

Janskou ulicí budete určitě procházet pomalu, jelikož vás ohromí krásou. Avšak na jejím konci vás čeká samotné srdce Kroměříže v podobě Velkého náměstí, jehož původ sahá do druhé poloviny 13. století, kdy zde bylo vybudováno tržiště o rozloze 1 hektaru. Ve středu náměstí se tyčí barokní mariánský sloup nebo kašna z roku 1655 zapojena do tehdejšího vodovodního systému města. Velké náměstí obklopuje mnoho staveb s charakteristickým podloubím, kde našly své místo restaurace, galerie, kavárny a obchůdky i pivovar, ale nejvýznamnější z nich je budova radnice. Tu poznáte velmi jednoduše. Zdobí ji totiž bezmála 40 metrů vysoká věž se dvěma hodinami a dvouramenným schodištěm. Radnice je sídlem městského úřadu.

Before we moved on to our next point of interest, Archbishop chateau, we went on Stojanovo square first. The square is close to the chateau. There is "provost" office, and the old "vikarka", and rising boldly to the sky is St Maurice church. It is one of the largest Gothic style structures in the Czech Republic. Two slim towers are its characteristic feature on the outside. In the inside, it consists of magnificent three isles. The church houses the collegiate chapter, and also the relics of St Vitus, St Maurice, and St Stephen which are normally not open to the public.

Right at the church, there is the Archbishop high-school compound which is linked to the Mlynska gate and Archbishopric chateau. So, the serving bishop could move from the chateau to the church on the so called "dry foot". We moved down the adjacent Pilarova street to Snemovni square as well. The latter, thanks to the chateau and Podzamecka garden, is one of the most popular places in Kromeriz. What we saw and experienced will be the matter of our article next week.
 
GPS: 49°17'50.8"N 17°23'26.0"E
Text and photos: Oskar Mažgút