Němčice

Clasificación

Château

País

Chequia

Región

Strakonice

Dirección

Němčice 1, 387 19 Němčice

Němčice Chateau stands in the village of the same name, approximately 7 km west of Volyně. The chateau complex with its farm and park has been a listed monument since 1958. The earliest written mention of the manorial seat at Němčice dates from 1629, but the Renaissance manor was already built by Adam Chřepický of Modliškovice, who acquired the village in 1582. The Chřepický family retained Němčice until 1667, when Anna Chřepická, née Kocová of Dobrš, sold it to Ctibor Václav Chřepický of Modliškovice. In 1674 Němčice was purchased by Jiří František Věžník of Věžník, considered the initiator of the conversion of the Renaissance manor into a Baroque chateau. In 1696 Jan Ignác Dlouhoveský of Dlouhá Ves purchased Němčice, incorporating the estate into Kraselovo; around this time the chateau was raised by one floor. In his last will of 1701 Jan Ignác Dlouhoveský established a family entail (fideicommis) from this property for all branches of the Dlouhoveský family (the Dlouhoveský, Chanovský, and Častoláry lines). Between 1727 and 1729 a chateau chapel of St John Nepomucen was added to the south-eastern façade of the chateau, in the design of which the eminent architect Pavel Ignác Bayer reportedly participated. In 1877 the last member of the Chanovský family branch died and the entail passed to the last surviving family branch, the Dlouhoveský of Dlouhá Ves. In 1907 Baron Karel Ludvík Dlouhoveský of Dlouhá Ves (1876–1956) took over Němčice and held it until 1945, when national administration was installed, the estate subsequently confiscated, and transferred to state ownership. In the 1980s the chateau complex served as apartments and later as accommodation for outdoor school centres. No investment was made in maintenance, however, and the once fine seat, together with the adjacent park, rapidly fell into ruin. By 1990 the deterioration had progressed so far that virtually all the upper-floor ceilings were threatened with collapse and the ground floor was also severely damaged. After protracted restitution disputes the chateau was recovered in 1994 by the rightful successor to the original owner, the son of Baron Karel Ludvík Dlouhoveský, Jan Ignác Dlauhoweský; after his death the chateau was taken over by his elder son Václav Dlauhoweský (born 1946). The family made several attempts to restore the chateau, and in 1996 and 1997 necessary emergency works were carried out. In 2000 the chateau chapel interior was saved and the paintings, sculptures, and Baroque organ restored. At present a gradual reconstruction of the chateau complex buildings is in progress. Project documentation has already been drawn up for all structures, including the chateau and the park. The entire property has passed to the new owner Lukáš Dlauhoweský (born 1979).

Czeva (CC BY-SA 3.0) · CC BY-SA 3.0