Zámek Zásmuky / Zásmuky Chateau (Central Bohemia)
N 49° 57.238 E 015° 01.700
33U E 502032 N 5533512
Early Baroque Zásmuky Chateau (Zámek Zásmuky), originally Gothic-Renaissance castle, is principal historic and architectonic landmark of a small market town Zasmuky in Central Bohemia region of the Czech Republic.
Waymark Code: WMQTDJ
Location: Středočeský kraj, Czechia
Date Posted: 03/27/2016
Views: 24
Early Baroque Zásmuky Chateau (Zámek Zásmuky), originally Gothic-Renaissance castle, is principal historic and architectonic landmark of a small market town Zasmuky in Central Bohemia region of the Czech Republic.
Zásmuky Chateau, firstly mentioned in 1285 as a fortress of squire
Sulislav of Zasmuky, kitchen master to Queen Guta, the wife of King Vaclav II. The Lords of Zásmuky owned the fortress until 1533, when it was bought by Adam of Rícany, who rebuilt the Gothic castle into a Renaissance chateau with open arcades into the courtyard. Zásmuky demesne was then sold to Jan Vchynský of Vchynice, the Royal Burgrave, in 1583.
After the Thirty Years' War (1618-1648), which devastated whole Kingdom of Bohemia, was damaged chateau bought by an unscrupulous war profiteer, Vaclav Michna of Vacínov, who, within a year (in 1637) exchanged it with Jan Rudolph of Sternberg. His son, Adolph Vratislav of Sternberg (1630-1703), highest Burgrave of the Czech Kingdom, rebuilt Zásmuky in the spirit of the early Baroque by adding a tower, replacing the fortification with a park. Also a large complex of administrative and farming buildings with huge entrance tower, decorated with Sternbergs' coat of arms, was constructed.
The last Sternberg to live in Zasmuky was Leopold (1896-1957).
In 1941, during the German occupation, the SS occupied Zasmuky and Leopold Sternberg with his family was forced to live elsewhere. In 1945 the properties were returned only to be confiscated in 1948 by the Communist Regime. In 1949 the Castle of Zasmuky was given to the Czech Army and it became a store for weapons. In 1982, due to uncertain circumstances, the house caught fire, which spread through the whole of the northeast wing. The burnt out shell remained unrepaired and further deteriorated until 1992 when it was returned to Diana Phipps Sternberg, the daughter of the last owner. She is trying to manage the estate so that the profits can help rebuild the house, or at least preserve it for future generations.