Buštěhrad´s sights

The Castle

We don´t know the exact appearance of the long gone, huge castle of Buštěhrad. It was destroyed during the Thirty Years' War and its ruins were recentlydisled and used to build a new chateau and houses in the pictoresque district, now called The Old Castle. Today we can see only fragments of the castle among the later development.

The Chateau

The Chateau was the seat of power of the Buštěhrad area as well as havinga long-time determining influence on its architecture. It is a very extensive baroque chateau, built in baroque and classic design.

Grand Duchess Anna Maria Františka Toskánská started to build the chateau in 1699. The building was situated of the half-ruined castle area. Prague builder, Jindřich Klingenleitner, was credited with the construction of the chateau.

During the first phase, in 1705, the middle part of the building was completed. Originally it was a long single-storey baroque building with a tower, surrounded on the east and west by modest buildings and gardens. Later, the steep land at the southern side was modified and changed into a park.

Modifications were stopped because of the duchess' death on Oct. 15, 1741.

The next initiator of the building process was her son-in-law Klement František Bavorský. From 1747 to 1748 the main mansion was renovated and extended in supreme baroque style. Construction work was done by Prague architect František Keymel along with the advice and expertise of Kylián Ignác Diezenhofer, whose experience is proven in 1747 to 1748 and the Anslem Lurag, which at Buštěhrad reacted in 1751 - 1753. This famous Prague builder (originally from Italy) at this time also oversaw the reconstruction of a local brewery.

The third phase of building went ahead from 1812 until 1816. At that time the Grand Duke Leopold Toskánský ordered two side wings to be built in classical architecture. In the left one, a new chateu chapel was built. It was further extended to the south in 1897. The Napoleonic front of the chapel of Holy Trinity, placed originally at west side, was moved to the south and placed above the main entrance. The chapel was turned into a parish church dedicated to the memory of Promotion of St. Cross. The chateau has been going through extensive reconstruction since 2003, so access is not available to the public.

Building of a Primary Art School

Another significant sight is the early-Baroque manor, ex-mansion of the manager and lately a rectory, which is located near the Buštěhrad Chateau.

The manor was built after the Thirty Years' War as a temporary feudal mansion at the time, when authorities considered reconstruction of the burnt castle area. That didn´t happen and instead the reconstruction of a new baroque chateau was decided upon.

Since 1982 this building has been used as a Primary Art School.

Memorial Pillars

The first of two memorial pillars stands near the chateau. It is about five meters high and it was built at the beginning of the 18th century. At the prismatic pedestal, a plaque shows two angels holding a relief of the Virgin Mary Staroboleslavská. The second, a six-meter-high pillar, can be found on the square near the building of a former brewery.

This so-called Tuscan pillar with a statuette of the Virgin Mary is from the end of the 17th century.

Chapels

Other structures of interest are the baroque chapels. There are five chapels in Buštěhrad and in nearby townships.

Three of them are alcoving: the Chapel of St. Ann near the cemetery, the St. Salvator next to the road to Lidice, and the Chapel of the Holy Trinity in the field on the way to Vrapice.

The biggest chapel with a belfry, is dedicated to the benefactress of the city, St. Mary Magdalena and stands in the square towards the baroque brewery. It is an eight-sided building with a prismatic tower. In the belfry are still two bells.

The second chapel with a belfry can be found on the west side of Buštěhrad in Prokopská Street. It has been dedicated to St. Prokop, benefactor of miners. This chapel is the youngest, dating to the beginning of 19th century.

Former Brewery

An interesting building is the late-Gothic feudal brewery near the pond, recently rebuilt in baroque style. Its author was a famous builder of many Prague palaces, Anselmo Lurago. Like the castle, the brewery was also laid waste and despoiled during the Thirty Years' War.

Beer has been brewed in Buštěhrad since 1967.

Presently, situated in the area of the former brewery, is the domicile of the Level firm,which acquired it in privatization in 1993.

Translation - Andrea Postolková, Martin Pospíšil.

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