Trinity Castle in Prague. Troy Castle in Prague. Summer country palace of the Sternberks

Artists and architects often travel to the Czech capital to admire the unique palace complexes. One of the main attractions of Prague is Troy Castle, which rises above the waters of the Vltava. Built at the end of the 17th century, the summer palace of Troy is an excellent example of the Baroque style, and at the same time a museum containing a magnificent collection of Czech sculpture and painting of the nineteenth century.

History of the castle

Czech aristocrats of the 17th century created many luxurious residences, but Troja Castle, built in 1679-1685 for the young Count Vaclav Vojtech Sternberg, managed to surprise even the most demanding architecture connoisseurs. In both Czech and foreign guidebooks the castle has a double name - Troy or Troy. This is due to the fact that the main idea that governs the external and internal decoration of the residence was the Trojan War, as well as scenes from ancient mythology. In 1703, a luxurious two-flight staircase, decorated with sculptures of ancient Greek gods and heroes, was added to the building.

The author of the design of the palace and park complex was the French architect J.B. Mate, who is also known as the creator of the Church of St. Francis and one of the recognized masters of the Czech Baroque. He managed to build a luxurious building, which at that time was considered a country palace, since it was located outside of Prague.

Work on the interior took more than six years. Magnificent frescoes by Dutch and Italian artists decorated the spacious halls, the most beautiful of which is considered the Habsburg. The most famous landmark of the Troy Castle - the ceiling "Apotheosis of the Habsburgs" - is dedicated to the victory of Austria over Turkey.

Some frescoes are made using the trompe l'oeil technique, which gives the images volume. Thanks to them, the appearance of the imperial hall changes depending on where the spectators are. In the Chinese halls you can admire wall paintings made in XIX century, as well as excellent ceramics.

The Sternbergs were not the last owners of the country palace. In 1763, Empress Maria Theresa bought it, and 13 years later it was transferred to the Institute of Noble Maidens. During the Prussian wars, the building was damaged, and then a dark period came in its history: the owners succeeded each other, until Alois Svoboda donated Troy Castle to the Czechoslovak Republic. Over time, the building lost some of its grandeur, so it was reconstructed. Ironically, it lasted as long as the Trojan War - ten years.

Park complex

Troysky Park is no less famous than the castle itself. Among the magnificent garden in the Baroque style there are fountains that bring freshness and coolness on hot summer days, multi-colored well-groomed flower beds, and busts. The trellis labyrinth is especially popular among park visitors. At the end of the garden there are greenhouses - another favorite walking place for tourists and townspeople. Entrance to Troysky Park, unlike the castle itself, is free, so in summer it gets quite crowded.

From the residence to the museum

Nowadays, balls are no longer held in Troy Castle, and the color of the Prague aristocracy is not found in its halls: it is located here art Gallery. Her collection includes paintings by Czech artists of the 19th century.

The museum dedicated to winemaking has its own history. There was once a vineyard behind the palace complex, named after Sternberk’s wife, Countess Klara. In 2003, it was put in order, and museum visitors can again taste the magnificent wines created by Czech masters.

Descriptions of the palace are in all guidebooks dedicated to the sights of Prague, but photos and articles about this unique palace do not convey even a hundredth of its grandeur. To appreciate the beauty of the building and the sophistication of the landscape design, you must at least once get to the picturesque area on the banks of the Vltava.

How to get to Troy Castle

Residents and guests of Prague can visit Troy Castle from April to October: in cold weather its halls are closed. Museums have a day off on Monday, and on Friday there is a shortened day: from one o'clock in the afternoon to six o'clock in the evening. On other days of the week you can look at the treasures of Troy Castle from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

There are several ways to get to Prague's Troja district. The cheapest is a trip first by metro and then by bus 112, the most comfortable is a taxi or transfer, and the most romantic is a short walk on a river bus.

Tickets to Troy Castle are available in three types: in addition to regular adults and children, you can also purchase a family ticket, which will cost less. And if you buy the so-called Troy Card, you can get the right to visit three attractions at once: the castle, the zoo and the botanical garden. This will allow you to allocate a small amount for the purchase of souvenirs.

Troy Castle(Czech: Trojský zámek), also known as Summer Palace of Troy- former country residence of representatives of the noble Czech family of the Sternbergs. Nowadays it is an object exhibition complex Capital Gallery. Adjacent to the palace is a beautiful garden and park ensemble, decorated with fountains and terracotta flowerpots.

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The palace was built at the end of the 17th century for Count Vaclav Vojtech Sternberg, who was so fascinated by the luxurious villas surrounded by greenery on the outskirts of Rome that he decided to recreate a piece of the Eternal City for himself in Prague. The author of the architectural project was the Frenchman Jean-Baptiste Matei, who based his work on classical examples of Roman palazzos.

main entrance decorates the palace double monumental staircase. It abounds with statues and busts that depict the battle of the Titans with the Olympian gods, and also represent the seasons and continents in allegorical form. Since the knowledge of ordinary Prague residents about Greek mythology in the 18th century consisted only of echoes of the legendary stories about the Trojan War, they began to call Troy first the new palace, and then the entire area, originally called Zadni-Ovenec.

The most important landmark of the Troy Castle is considered to be also called the Habsburg Castle. Its wall and ceiling frescoes celebrate the decisive victory over the Ottomans at the Battle of Vienna (1683), who posed the main threat to Central Europe in the 15th–17th centuries. Most of all, the subjects of the frescoes glorify the Habsburg dynasty and the current Emperor Leopold I, who did not even take part in the battle.

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An artistic feature of the Imperial Hall is the large number of so-called trompe l'oeil frescoes. This is a technical technique in art, the purpose of which is to create an optical illusion that the depicted object is in three-dimensional space; in other words, the “picture-within-a-picture” effect.

Three rooms in the north-eastern part of the palace - the so-called “Chinese rooms” - are decorated with wall paintings with oriental motifs by an unknown author, most likely dating back to the second half of the 18th century. All rooms and halls of the palace were richly decorated, even the ceiling of the stable was decorated with paintings.

In 1922, the last owner, Alois Svoboda, handed over the Troy Castle, which had fallen into disrepair, and the large adjacent one land plot into state ownership with the condition that they will be used only for public purposes. Subsequently, a zoo and a botanical garden were founded on this territory, and the palace, after a full-scale restoration in 1977–1989, was opened to public access as a museum attraction. Nowadays, it is often used for wedding ceremonies and special events. For example, in 2009, Troy Castle was rented by singer Madonna to celebrate the birthday of her son Rocco.

Temporary exhibition "Stone Treasures from Prague Gardens"

28. 3. 2018 - 4. 11. 2018

An integral part of the ancient Prague gardens was their artistic decoration, including small architectural forms. Sculptures and other decorative elements told stories or indicated the status or interests of the owner. These works, having endured the vagaries of nature for many years, gradually disappeared from the gardens as a result of irretrievable destruction or forced replacement with copies. The exhibition at Troja Castle presents a collection of authentic sculptures from the Vrtba Garden, landscape park Tsibulka, preserved fragments of the early Baroque decoration of the garden at Troy Castle, Kinsky Park, as well as busts from summer palace Portgame. The title of the exhibition recalls the most popular materials for artistic decoration of gardens, while simultaneously indicating the fragmentary and unfinished state of the exhibits, which are kept in depositories in the form in which they were found and are usually not restored for exhibition purposes. - bus tour for those who want to immerse themselves in the atmosphere Czech Middle Ages- 8 hours, 30 euros

This is Troy Castle. They say it was built to recreate the atmosphere eternal city Rome and the perfect illusion of a magnificent suburban estate, full of artistic works in the middle of endless gardens, surrounded by vineyards and a roaring river. There can be no shadow of doubt that this plan was a success down to the smallest detail. It’s enough to sit here on a sunny day and enjoy the heavenly tranquility « in the arms of one of the most luxurious residences of its time.

Stairway to Heaven

In Troy Castle, your attention will be drawn at first glance by the majestic staircase, which later gave it its name. Its stucco decoration depicts the battle of the Titans with the ancient gods, allegories « Day", « Nights" and « Continents." It is possible that this beautiful staircase will already seem familiar to you. Most likely, because ex-Spice Girl Jerry Halliwell filmed a video clip here. Inside the castle, be sure to examine its magnificent artistic decoration and the famous works of Czech artists of the 19th century, which are presented within these walls by one of the exhibitions of the Prague Gallery.

On a boat to the zoo!

Would you like to temporarily find yourself in the African savannah, tropical jungle or the ice kingdom of Antarctica? In this case, do not miss a visit to the nearby Prague Zoo, one of the most beautiful in the world. This is due, first of all, to the exceptional location, which includes natural cliffs, slopes and plains, as well as modern exhibitions that perfectly copy natural environment animal habitats. Have a great day « in the company of elephants, hippos, gorillas, giraffes, zebras, polar bears, red pandas and Komodo dragons. Here you can see more than four thousand animals of 700 species. Don't miss the unique spectacle of herds of African tetrapods moving freely across vast expanses, a visit to a corner of the Indonesian jungle full of monkeys, or the opportunity to ride the cable car from the lower level of the zoo to the upper level. To make your day at the Prague Zoo memorable, you better come here by special pleasure boat, which departs every day in the summer from Rašinova Embankment. You can conveniently get to Troy in a few minutes by bus from Holešovice Station, located not far from the center of Prague.

Relax in a world of flowers

Do you love the subtle scent of exotic plants, blooming gardens and walking among colorful flowers? In this case, you should visit the Prague Botanical Garden, located on the hill above Troy Castle. Sit for a while in a beautiful Japanese garden, breathe in the scent of romantic irises, or watch the moths flutter overhead in a magical greenhouse « Fata Morgana". All this with magnificent views of Prague and the surrounding vineyards of St. Clare, where grapes were grown already in the time of Emperor Charles IV. You can end your wonderful day in Troy with a tasting of the local wines.

The Summer Palace of Troy, or more simply the Troy Castle (Trojský zámek), was built at the end of the 17th century by order of Count Vaclav Vojtěch Sternberg of the century and was used by one of the most influential Czech dynasties as a country residence. Surrounded by a magnificent garden and park complex and located in close proximity to the zoo and botanical garden of the same name, it is always popular among guests of Prague.

Architecture and interior

The French architect J.B. worked on the creation of Troy Castle. Mate, who also designed the Tuscan Palace in Prague, the Church of St. Francis of Assisi and was involved in the reconstruction of the archbishop's palace in. He drew inspiration from his trips abroad, so summer residence Sternberg's was built in the Baroque style, modeled on Italian country villas. Soon after the construction of the palace was completed, a garden was laid out, which is decorated with fountains and vases, as well as a greenhouse, a natural labyrinth, and numerous ornamental and fruit trees.

It is worth special mentioning the decor of the staircase leading from the garden to the castle, on which the sculptors Georg and Paul Hermann worked. The fact is that the main entrance is located on this side of the building and this is where the main facade is located, so the craftsmen put a lot of effort and talent into their creation. The staircase is decorated with statues and busts of characters from ancient mythology, in particular the heroes of Homer's Iliad, as well as allegorical sculptures representing the seasons and continents. This original decor later gave the name to the entire castle, and later to the adjacent Prague region.


The greatest artistic value in terms of interior is the Imperial Hall, the walls and ceiling of which are covered with unique paintings. The highlight of the decoration is that the room changes shape and appearance depending on the viewing angle. The main theme of the frescoes is the praise of the Habsburgs, in particular one of the paintings is dedicated to the battle with the Turks near Vienna in 1683. In this way, Count Sternberg wanted to honor the royal dynasty and hoped that the current Emperor Leopold I would visit his beautiful castle while hunting.

Several halls of the palace are dedicated to oriental themes and are painted with paintings with detailed images of the city landscape. The painting of the rooms, called Chinese halls, was done by unknown artists and most likely dates back to the second half of the 18th century. The elegant frescoes of the premises are complemented by a small collection of ceramics. In general, all rooms of the palace, including the stables, are decorated with paintings in one way or another.

Historical excursion

In 1763, the castle was sold by the Stanbergs to Maria Theresa, who housed an institute for noble maidens in it. Over the next centuries, the property went through several owners, the last of whom was Alois Svoboda. A wealthy businessman and famous philanthropist transferred the deteriorating Troy Castle and the adjacent land plot, on which a zoo and a botanical garden were subsequently built, into the ownership of the city in 1922, with the condition that they would be used exclusively for public purposes. In the 80-90s, the castle underwent major renovations, after which it was opened to visitors.


Today the palace houses a branch museum complex Galleries of the capital Prague (Galerie hlavního města Prahy). Currently, there are two temporary exhibitions here, one of which is dedicated to the work of the Czech sculptor Vladimir Skoda (some of the master’s works are exhibited in the Kampa Museum), and the other is a collection of sculptures from parks and gardens in Prague. In addition, the castle premises are often used for wedding ceremonies and special events.

Troja Castle is located in the urban district of Prague 7, in the northern part of the Czech capital, and is one of the must-see attractions in Prague. On its premises there is a large museum of Oriental art, landscape design and paintings.

History of Troy Castle

This building was reconstructed within ten years - the same amount of time the Greeks besieged Troy. The building was erected in the Baroque style, and at the end of the 17th century, representatives of the influential aristocratic Sternberk family became the owners of the building.

What to see in Troya Castle

Famous architects of their time worked on this structure, and the garden staircase was decorated with sculptural images of characters from ancient Greek legends - heroes and deities. The Emperor's Hall is a unique and mysterious structure, the likes of which are not found in any European castle. Depending on the angle from which the viewer looks at it, the room can visually change its shape and appearance - in this room you can completely lose the sense of reality. This effect is achieved thanks to the illusory painting performed by the artist Abraham Godin. There is also a wine museum in Troysky Castle, where there is the largest collection of paintings from the century before last, as well as an exhibition of oriental ceramics. The latter is located in the Chinese Hall.

Opening hours and ticket prices

Troy Castle welcomes guests from April to October and is open every day except Mondays. On Fridays, the first half of the day is occupied by wedding ceremonies, so tourists are allowed in from 13:00. On other days, the castle doors open at 10:00. End of work – 18:00.

Ordinary admission ticket costs 120 CZK, children's tickets are half the price, and for 250 CZK you can buy a family ticket. In addition, there is a Troy Card, by purchasing which you can visit not only the castle itself, but also the nearby botanical garden and zoo.

How to get there

If you are already in Prague, then the most in a convenient way to get to Troy will be public transport. It will be cheaper and faster than driving your own car.

The metro station closest to Troja Castle is called Nadrazi Holesovice Station. It is located on branch C, indicated in red on the diagrams. When leaving the station, walk 20 meters to the left and you will find yourself at bus stop. If it is a weekday, then wait for bus number 112, which will take you to the castle in about ten minutes. You can go either to the last stop (“Zoo”) or to the penultimate (“ Botanical Garden"). And on weekends, at the same metro stop you can take free bus to the zoo (“zoobus”), which runs at the same time of year when the castle is open. The interval of their movement is ten minutes.

You can also take a tram near the metro: routes No. 14, 17, 25, which go to Troyskaya Street, will suit you. They run strictly according to a schedule, which you can find out at each stop.

Finally, you can arrive to the castle by boat. Not far from the Palackého bridge there is a pier from where ships depart four times a day. The trip will cost 120 CZK (standard ticket), but during it you will see many Prague attractions. To get to the pier, use the metro - you need to go to the Narodni trida station, which is located on the yellow line. From there you will need to walk along the Masaryk embankment and turn left - there you will find a pier for river buses.

Troy Castle in former times was a royal residence - there is a lot of interesting things there, both inside and outside. It will take a lot of time to fully explore the premises of the castle and the huge garden surrounding it. As a rule, they allocate a whole day for this and do not try to combine a visit to Troy in Prague with excursions to other sites.

 

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