Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
spaces with weekly concerts. The quality of the performers
and the unique setting—in the château halls and gardens—
make a visit worthwhile (ticket booking and purchase at
the TI on Velké Náměstí, w w w.hudba-kromeriz.cz). The
Kroměříž Music Summer Festival is held in September (tel.
573-341-400).
Internet Access: DC Internet Café, located on the main square,
is right below the town museum (40 Kč/hr, Mon-Fri 10:00-
19:00, Sat-Sun 13:00-19:00, Velké Náměstí 39).
SIGHTS
Archbishop's Château (Arcibiskupský Zámek) —Dominating
the main square and the whole town, this château was rebuilt
in Baroque style by archbishop Karel Lichtenstein (dubbed the
“Moravian Richelieu”) after an
earlier castle was severely damaged
in the Swedish siege during the
Thirty Years' War. The furniture
and decorations are in the Rococo
style (from the second half of the
18th century). The breathtaking
chandeliers are made of Czech
crystal.
The château is famous for one
historic event: The Austrian parliament moved here from unstable
Vienna during the tumultuous year of 1848, when a wave of revo-
lutions spread across the Habsburg lands. The parliament drafted
the first Austrian constitution in the château's main hall.
Hours: May-Sept Tue-Sun 9:00-17:00, closed Mon; April
and Oct Sat-Sun only 9:00-17:00, closed Mon-Fri; closed Nov-
March. Tel. 573-502-011, www.azz.cz.
To u r s : You can see the art gallery (described next) and climb
the tower (40 Kč) on your own, but you can tour the château inte-
rior only with a guide (90 Kč with a Czech-speaking group). Try
asking for an English-language tour—you'll pay double, but you
might be the only one on the tour. Tours run about every hour
and last 70 minutes, with the time about evenly split between the
first floor (eight rooms) and second floor (which has a beautifully
painted ceiling depicting the history of the bishopric, and over-
looks a stunning library interior with 80,000 books).
Art Gallery: Art-lovers should consider visiting the bishop's
art gallery. Sure, it's not the Louvre—but it's the best Moravian
collection of European paintings from 1400-1800, with works by
Titian, Lucas Cranach, Albrecht Dürer, and Paolo Veronese (60
Kč, same hours as château).
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