History of Château Liblice
Château Liblice is a magnificent Baroque gem of Czech château architecture.
When Daniel Norbert Pacht of Rájov inherited the land in 1699, it was a demesne with an old and abandoned fortress. However, his successor, Count Arnost decided to use the land to build a residence worthy of a Baroque cavalier. He gave the task of designing and building the château to Giovanni Battista Alliprandi, a much-sought Italian architect and the builder of the most distinguished Baroque structures in Bohemia.
The château was founded a sufficient distance from the village to allow for the establishment of the future castle park and deer reserve. The original inspiration for the château was a ground plan drawn by Austrian architect Fisher Erlach. The design was adapted to suit the owner’s requirements and fit into the local terrain, giving rise to a building of monumental proportions. Alliprandi streamlined and simplified the original Erlach design, shifting the emphasis from rich decorations to the purity of the architectural idea, resulting in the theretofore unprecedented architectural style, which was later much copied and imitated throughout the country (palaces in Prague, castle in Chlumec nad Cidlinou, castle in Veltrusy, hospital in Duchcov and others).
In late 18th century, the château balconies and the terrace were adorned by sculptures and vases from the workshop of Ignac Platzer, who also decorated the walls of the salla terrena. Also the utility and farm buildings enclosing the ceremonial courtyard were adapted to their present design at the end of the 18th century. The same period marked the creation of the château park with its network of paths, terraces and water channels. However, the maintenance of the park was much neglected until the 1920s, when the gardens were restored in accordance with a design by leading garden architect Camillo Schneider.
The Pacht family of Rájov owned the château and the demesne until the late 19th century, when the manor was sold to the house of Wallenstein to be later inherited by the Thun-Hohenstein family, who owned the château until 1945, when it was confiscated by the State.
The new owners gradually modernized the château to suit their needs, thus unfortunately partially obliterating the pure and monumental character of the original interiors. Nevertheless, the Neo-Renaissance stucco and painting decoration also forms an integral part of the château´s architectural history and was preserved in the recent restoration for its great beauty.
This historical development for the time being ended with adaptations conducted in the course of an extensive restoration of the entire château complex, which includes historically valuable adjoining structures such as the château conservatory, gardener’s house, château chapel and a cross erected in honor of Leonard Thun-Hohenstein.
History of Liblice Village
The castle is situated in the cadastral area of the Liblice municipality. Thanks to its favorable environmental conditions (altitude 200 meters above sea level, adequate water supply, mixed forest), the first human settlement of the area dates back to prehistoric times, as evidenced by archeological findings from 5000 BC.
The first written records about Liblice come from the year 1254, mentioning Wenceslas of Liblice and his estate. The records from the year 1375 refer to a local fortress, which was built in the plain, but was also well protected by the river and the local swamps. In 1669, when the demesne fell to the house of Pachts of Rájov, the records described the structure as a long-abandoned fort. The beginning of the 18th century was also the start of the history of Château Liblice. At present, the municipality is inhabited by 480 residents.
Important historical sites of Liblice include:
St. Wenceslas church – built in the Gothic style, first records date to the year 1385. The current Baroque styling is a result of large-scale restoration in 1710, when Jan Pacht of Rájov ordered the construction of an oratory and a vestry. A tower with a dome was added in the years 1713 to 1715 and the church was adapted and decorated with stuccowork. The original Gothic elements can consequently be found in walls, windows and vaults of the presbytery. The present interior has a Baroque style restored in 1880s. The family burial chamber of the Pacht and Deym families was installed under the high altar.
Chapel of the Virgin Mary of 1699, designed by the castle builder Giovanni Battista Alliprandi.
The local graveyard is the last resting place of J. Josef, Count Pacht, an excellent musician and composer, who among others accommodated and entertained W.A. Mozart in his Prague palace. Count Pacht’s tombstone dates back to the year 1822 and was created in Ignác Platzer’s workshop.
The Baroque statue of Jan Nepomuk, which stands in front of the church, dates to year 1710.
