ZBRASLAV CHATEAU
In 1292, Wenceslaw II founded a Cistercian Monastery at the confluence of the Berounka and Vltava rivers, south of Prague. The monastery became the burial place of the last members of the Premyslid family. It flourished especially in the first half of the 14th century, when the Zbraslav abbots wrote the Zbraslav Chronicle, a unique source of knowledge about Czech history. The monastery´s current appearance dates from its reconstruction in the Baroque style in the 18th century, according a design by G. Santini and F.M. Kanka. It was decorated with paintings of V.V. Reiner and F.X. Palko, but abolished in 1785, and turned into one of Bohemia´s first sugar factories. It was not until 1911-12 that the prelature was renovated by architect D. Jurkovic. The other parts were gradually reconstructed until 1925 for the new owner, Cyril Barton of Dobenin, a generous patron of Czech arts and culture who lent the building to the National Gallery in 1940.
The National Gallery collection of 19th and 20th century Czech sculpture has since been housed here with some of the items on display in the chateau park. By the central building stands tower, a Gothic structure with a Baroque onion-shaped dome. Next to it, there is a neo-renaissance structure with a sgraffito decorated facade. The Church of St. James Major was originally a Gothic one, but was enlarged in the 17th century and reconstructed and decorated in the Baroque style. In the nave of the church, there is a memorial to Premysl the Ploughman by J. Stursa and P. Janak, of 1924 with receptacles with the skulls of the kings Wenceslas II and Wenceslas III and of Queen Eliska Premyslovna, the mother of Charles IV. The whole complex is being tastefully reconstructed by the Barton family to whom it has been restituted. Some of the sculptures from the National Gallery collection have remained in the park.
For social events like gala dinners, banquets, receptions and cocktails the Knights hall is best suitable, because of beautiful fresco on the ceiling. The capacity of the room is up to 200 people in banquet style. For events with smaller number of guests use the Refectary of the Zbraslav Chateau is available. It is located on the ground floor of the chateau just below the Knights room. This room has capacity up to 120 people in banquet style. For welcome cocktails or outside reception it is possible to use the ambit, with an easy access from the gardens.
Room |
Banquet |
Reception |
Cocktail |
Royal Hall |
200 |
250 |
250 |
Refectary |
120 |
150 |
150 | |