Letohrádek Hvezda / Hvezda Chateau - Liboc (Prague)
N 50° 05.001 E 014° 19.594
33U E 451820 N 5548115
This Czechoslovak stamp issued in 1952, devoted to the 75th birthday of Zdenek Nejedlý, one of the most interesting Renaissance buidings in Prague - Chateau Hvezda (Letohrádek Hvezda) in Hvezda gaming park in Liboc suburb district of Prague.
Waymark Code: WMQD00
Location: Hlavní město Praha, Czechia
Date Posted: 02/07/2016
Views: 51
This Czechoslovak stamp issued in 1952, devoted to the 75th birthday of Zdenek Nejedlý (minister of culture), one of the most interesting Renaissance buidings in Prague - Chateau Hvezda (Letohrádek Hvezda) in Hvezda gaming park in Liboc suburb district of Prague. At this time chateau served as a Museum of Alois Jirásek.
Hvezda, an outstanding chateau and hunting lodge is the work of Renaissance architects Giovanni Maria Aostalli and Giovanni Lucchese. Commissioned in 1530 by the Holy Roman Emperor Ferdinand I, the project was finally realized in 1555 by his son Ferdinand II, vice-regent of Bohemia. The summer palace lies at the junction of a series of formal avenues on high ground about 7 km west of the centre of Prague. Its geometric design ('hvezda' means 'star' in Czech) refers to the mystical properties of the number six, traditionally a symbol of the union of heaven and earth. The foundation date, 1555, is likely to have been chosen as a multiple of 311, the year of the Edict of Toleration of Christians by the Roman emperor Galerius.
Such arcane numerology, however, failed to save the palace from a number of bloody battles fought at or near its strategic hilltop location, notably the Battle of the White Mountain (1620) and the Battle of Prague (1648). The first of these is commemorated in a permanent display now exhibited inside the building.
In 1962, Hvezda was listed as a national cultural monument, which it remains today. Chateaz is opened for visitors daily except mondays during summer season (from April to October).