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BAROQUE ARCHITECTURE IN CZECH COUNTRIES

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European countries, exhausted by 30 years persisted war, began to take a breath for a new boom. Devastated domains began to be restored and a new spiritual atmosphere of the time getting start a new economic tendency - merkantilism together with new art style - baroque. Situation is formed also in the Czech countries. In consequence of Bнlб hora fight (1620) secular lords and church reinforced their power by exiling and decimating of protestants and they got big financial means thanks to the confiscations of protestant's property.
All above mentioned had an influence on giant boom of engineering works in first half of the 18th century. Architecture already stopped to be only functional residence of a nobleman and had to express his power and social status. Under leading of prominent architects Johan Bernhard Fisher from Erlach, Jacob von Hildebrandt, Octavio Broggio, Giovanni Battista Alliprandi and Maxmilian Kanka arose jewels of baroque architecture. The top of the baroque creation represent works of Kryљtof Dienzenhofer, Jan Blazej Santini and Kilian Ignбc Dienzenhofer, which didn't have any analogy in whole European art of that time.

Itinerary
Day 1
Arrival to Pragueґs airport. Meeting with Atypus guide and transfer by coach to the centre of Prague. Lunch in St.Thomas restaurant. Historical building where the pub has noted already since the 15th century. Begining of our trip around famous monuments of baroque architecture is at one of the most valuable buildings of these period. St. Nicolas church built by Krystof Dienzenhofer for jezuitical college in 1703 -1711 (construction was finished by his son Kilian Ignбc Dienzenhofer, see later). Across Charles's bridge (built in1350; first stone bridge in Prague) we will walk to the church of St. Frank Seraphic, which was built by Jean Baptiste Mathey for order of the cross. This building had essential influence on development of baroque architecture in central Europe and inspiration from that took for example master-builder of Vienna's court J.B.Fischer from Erlach. From the right bank of Vltava river we will see the panorama of Prague castle. Not far from here J.B. Fischer from Erlach built a palace for the count of Gallas. This is one of the most important buildings built by J.B.Fischer from Erlach in Czech countries. Special attention is to be given to relations of architecture and sculpture decoration made by Mathias Braun (his statues decorate also Charles's bridge). Last stop of the first day is palace of count Pшehoшovskэ. It was built by G.B.Alliprandi in 1707 and it's his most important work.
Day 2
Departure in the morning by bus toward to Kutnб Hora. Nearby this historical town is Sedlec. Here was rebuilt a church of The Holy Virgin and John the Baptist by J.B.Santini. This very interesting building was burnt down by hussite's army in 1421. First time in history there were made completion of the gothic church in baroque style. Santini got thanks to this building another jobs from different monastic orders. Inside decorations are works of Petr Brandl. Sight seeing of Kutnб hora - king's mining town founded in the 2nd half of the 13th century. Beautiful cathedral of St.Barbara is other work of builder of St.Vitus cathedral in Prague - Petr Parlйr and also this is the second biggest cathedral in the country. In the town we also will see St.John of Nepomuk church - a baroque building built by F.M.Kanka. He was an excelent baroque builder. He had worked according to the plans of Dienzenhofer, Alliprandi and Santini. Lunch Drive by bus apprx. 2 hours to Zdбr nad Sбzavou. It is a place where another jewels of baroque architecture are located. Buildings of J.B.Santini. Church of St.John of Nepomuk built on the ground plan of star hiding a lot of secret meanigs and religious symbols. A friendship between Santini and abbot Vejmluva caused that this region became a centre of a construction activities in the 1/3 of 18th century. Church of St. John of Nepomuk is not only the top of Santini's work in Morava but also it is the top of whole baroque school of Guarnini. Another big job was completion of the church of The Assumption of the Virgin where Santini used his knowledge from Seldec. Drive to Brno. Accommodation in hotel in centre. Free evening.
Day 3
One hour drive to Krtiny. A pilgrimage church of The Holy Virgin was built here according to the plans of J.B.Santini. It was realized only a part form the great project because of a lack of financial means. Builder of the church was F.B. Klнcnнk from Brno We will drive to Slavkov where is a scene of famous Napoleon fight in 1805. To order of count of Kounic a famous italien architect Domenico Martinelli made a project of castle. Original project was made already in 1691, but completions were made up to half of the 18th century. Martinelli belongs to these architects, who had big influence on Czech baroque creation. Lunch in restaurant called "Starб poљta". The building was a main station of Napoleon's generals during the fight in 1805. After lunch 1 hour drive to Rajhrad. Church of St.Petr and St. Paul built in 1724 -25 according to the plans of J.B.Santini. F.B.Klнcnнk was a builder of the church. He represented the top of baroque builders in Morava region. As well as all Santini's projects is the one made with close relation to the history of the place, where in the past stood an roman church (appr.11th century). Night in Brno with possiblity to arrange a cultural program - concert, theatre performance, etc.
Day 4
Alternative choice is to visit a works of master-builder of Vienna's court - J.B. Fischer from Erlach (Vranov, Lednice, Valtice). In this area, which is close to the Austrian border, there are seven castles, two huge parks, two historical towns and several pilgrimage churches, which all belonged in former times to the Liechtenstein and letter Dietrichstein families. We will visit the castle and park in Lednice and later castle and park in Valtice. Valtice castle is the counterpart of the Liechtensteinsп Lednice residence whose present appearance has resulted from a baroque restyling, in which J.B.Fisher was involved, of an older chateau. Valtice park, begun in 1727, consists of the garden and the English Park linked by avenues. Here there are mythological sculptures, the man-made "Hell" grotto, and rich collections of trees. Several old avenues lead off to nearby villages, and connect Valtice with the park at Lednice. Beetwenn the parks are various historical buildings - a triumphal arch, the temple of Diana, the temple of the of gracies etc. The park complex covers 14.6 hectars. The park of Lednice consist of a a baroque garden in a pattern of six large squares with fountains, together with the largest English park in Czech Republic - 270 hectars. The baroque garden was designed by Comino Martini. The English baroque garden was created by architect Franti and botanist Van Der Scott, who brought 36,000 exotic plants to Lednice. The famous orangery of 1843 is due to the English architect Devien. On all sides are extensive vistas. Notable among the buildings in the park are artificial castle ruin called Januv Hrad, a Turkish-style minaret, and a Moorish watertower. There is an artificial lake with 15 islands. The area is a very important bird reserve in which storks and night herons are plentiful. By the park are large pine forests much favoured by hunters.
Day 5
We are leaving Brno and going to Litomysl. Litomysl is the town with rich cultural life. It is a birthplace of Bedrich Smetana and it's famous by own music festival. Dominant of the town is monumental renaissance castle built for Vratislav form Pernstejn in 1568 -81. Counterbalance of the castle is a mass of church of The Finding of St. Cross built by G.B.Alliprandi. in 1714-26. After lunch 1hour drive to Smirice In the small village is located a church of The Apparition of the Lord. It is very important building of K.Dienzenhofer and it's belong to so called "radical baroque group" of buildings. Decoration of main altar was made by Petr Brandl, who was the most important person of the Czech baroque painting. 1/2hour driving to Kuks. The baths, the church of The St. Trinity and the monastery was created for count Љpork by G.B.Alliprandi. It is the biggest baroque complex in the country. Count Љpork invited also Matyбљ Braun, who created a big file of statues and building decoration here. Braun worked also in close neighbourhood. He made monumental plastic pictures right from the stones and rock in near forest. It's a pity that whole complex of baroque buildings in Kuks is in very bad state and especially sculpture works had been handed only partly. Later drive to Chlumec nad Cidlinou. A castle for count Kinskэ was built here according to the plans of J.B.Santini. Construction was runed by F.M.Kanka in 1710. Architect created here a typical building according to requests of that period - demonstration of power of the Kinskэ's house. In the castle is special exhibition "Baroque in Czech" which we will see. Drive in Prague. Accommodation in centre located hotel.
Day 6
After breakfast we walk to the first church of St. John of Nepomuk on Skalka. It is one from most valuable works of K.I.Dienzenhofer. Then walk to another his work. He built a palace for Octavio Piccolomini in 1743. This building is the first palace in Dienzenhofer career. Our continue to church of St. Nicolas, where we see how this architect finished construction of the church, which was started by his father K.Dienzenhofer. It is possible to see a work of experienced architect. Further on in Nerudova street is palace of Kolowrat's amily made by J.B.Santini in 1716-26. Sculpture decoration is again made by Matyбљ Braun. This building was an example for a lot of Santini's successors in following years. Close to Prague castle is church of The St. John of Nepomuk built also by K.I.Dienzenhofer (1728). This church belongs to first important works of young architect and its space disposition is like prototype of his furher buildings. Concert or theatre performance in the evening depending on clientsґ wishes.
Day 7
Individual programme in the morning and transfer to airport in the afternoon or extra day in Prague.

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