Zámek Heřmanův Městec - Masarykovo nám. 37

Heřmanův Městec Chateau is a large building of the late Baroque mansion stylishly connected to the so-called English park in the cadastral area of ​​Heřmanův Městec, with an entrance from Masaryk Square in the town of the same name in the Pardubice Region. Only the exterior from the square and the castle park (publicly accessible, arboretum, marked hiking trails) is possible for public inspection, but the castle courtyard and interiors are normally inaccessible to the public, used for social services by the Capital City of Prague since 1952. Allegedly in the ancient past, a Gothic fortress (1325) originally stood on the site of the chateau. A Renaissance chateau was built in the 16th century (1591), further modified during the 17th century (the Berk family) and rebuilt in the late Baroque style in the 18th century with the establishment of the chateau park (Šporková). In 1828 the chateau was bought by Rudolf Kinský (1802 Prague - 1836 Linz) and after his death the chateau was inherited by the then still minor son Ferdinand Bonaventura Kinský (1834 Vienna - 1904 Heřmanův Městec), while his mother Vilemína, née Colloredo-Mansfeldová (1804–1871) began construction modifications of the castle, which affected its current appearance, from 1848 to 1850 comes, for example, a hexagonal neo-Gothic tower standing in the northwest corner of the castle grounds. The castle reached its peak during the 19th century. In 1856 Ferdinand became an adult, over the years he gained a good social position in Great Britain, which probably had the effect that in 1860 he had the castle tower modified in the so-called English style, finished with a gallery, in 1865 to 1868 there was also to fundamentally modify the interior of the castle. Between 1873 and 1878, the castle park was gradually renovated, probably under the influence of his stay in the English Cottesbrooke Park, where in 1877 he accompanied the Emperor Elizabeth of Bavaria (1837-1898), called Sissi. For example, he imported balls from England as early as 1875 and probably held one of the first football matches in the Czech lands in a meadow in the castle park. Between 1889 and 1890, a greenhouse was built in the chateau garden and a dining room in the south-eastern wing of the chateau, and the chateau chapel was also renovated. The construction of the chateau on the park side was modified and the construction of the north-western wing of the chateau reached practically its current form (for a description of the construction, see the monument certificate, the website of the National Monuments Institute). In 1904, the castle was inherited by Karel Kinský (1858 - 1919), a personal friend of King Edward VII of England, had access to the highest British circles, and in 1883, for example, won the Great National Steeplechase in Liverpool with his own mare Zoedone. In the years 1904–1910 he was the president of the Austrian Jockey Club), the stud farm also belonged to the chateau in Heřmanov Městec. He died childless and the chateau was inherited by his younger brother Rudolf Ferdinand (1859–1930), who bought the chateau in Lysá nad Labem in 1905, where he also died. The chateau building in its current form with four wings surrounds an enclosed courtyard, to which two passages lead, from the chateau park and also from Masaryk Square (building no. 47, above the entrance the coat of arms of the Kinský family, in the place of the square Towards Masaryk Square and the castle courtyard are in the upper part of the hexagonal tower in sz. parts of the chateau currently have a clock on two surfaces (the chateau in various views see photo). I recommend to visit the exterior of the castle, an important architectural and cultural object, barrier-free access is from Masaryk Square and the castle park, where there are benches to sit and groomed paths for easy walks, suitable for children. The chateau complex is located in the city center, with commonly available services and shops, as well as a car park. The green and blue tourist route of the Czech Tourists' Club leads to the chateau, through the chateau park (part of the natural monument Heřmanův Městec) the green continues to the chateau in Slatiňany, blue towards Seč (see photo of the signpost, chateau park also place on the map). CZ220415