Benatky nad Jizerou Castle

Benatky nad Jizerou Castle - Zámek Benátky nad Jizerou, Benatky nad Jizerou, Central Bohemian Region, Czech Republic.

As late as 1525, Bedřich of Donín styled himself "of Dražice," but two years later he adopted the title "of Benátky." Similarly, the designation "Benátky" came to prevail over the original "Dražice" in the name of the entire estate. The original Donín château consisted of what is now the western wing. This single-story building was constructed in the Italian Renaissance style, featuring arcades facing the current courtyard. A barn and other small outbuildings stood in the open area in front of the château. It has not been proven whether the château was built directly upon the ruins of the Cyriac monastery. Construction work continued in the subsequent decades of the 16th century; a second story was added to the building, and the façade was decorated with envelope-style rustication (1572).
In 1599, Emperor Rudolf II purchased the estate—including the château—from the Lords of Donín. Rare figurative sgraffito decorations featuring hunting, mythological, and religious motifs, found on the château's eastern wall, date from this period. The château became the home of the famous astronomer Tycho Brahe for one year; it was here, on February 3, 1600, that he first met another outstanding astronomer and mathematician, Johannes Kepler.
Major structural modifications were carried out under Jan of Werth, who had acquired the Benátky estate from Emperor Ferdinand III in recognition of his service during the Thirty Years' War. He commissioned the addition of a new Baroque wing to the original château; this wing now forms the main façade. Both wings of the château had their own entrances and staircases; contemporary sources distinguished between the two buildings—the Renaissance "Old Château" and the Baroque "New Château." In the mid-17th century, necessary outbuildings were constructed around the château, and the entire complex—including the church—was enclosed by a wall featuring three gates. The new wing of the château burned down in 1656.
It was not until the late 17th century, under the ownership of Count von Schützen, that the entire château underwent major repairs and reconstruction. It was during this period that the Benátky château acquired its present-day appearance. The two wings were connected, while the main entrance and staircase were retained in the central front section. Additionally, a third—eastern—wing was added (likely in 1702) and linked to the church via a gallery.
The Příchovský family of Příchovice also commissioned modifications to the Benátky château. The architect Filip Heger carried out significant Rococo interior renovations, and the staircase was also rebuilt. From the late 19th century onwards—after Vienna’s Länderbank became the owner—the château gradually fell into disrepair. Even the final noble owners, the Kinský family, failed to devote sufficient attention to the château's maintenance; for instance, the furnishings were sold off at auction.
Gradual repairs and restoration work only began in 1920, after the town purchased the château. In 1937, the sgraffito decorations—which had previously been largely concealed beneath the plaster—were restored. The chateau's interiors were also partially restored, and the building became the seat of the municipal administration.
Further major renovations took place in the 1980s and 1990s; in addition to addressing the critical condition of the masonry, the structural integrity of the entire building, and ceilings infested with dry rot, the sgraffito decoration was restored and the courtyard between the chateau wings was significantly redesigned.
The chateau currently houses the municipal offices, as well as the headquarters of the waste management company AVE CZ odpadové hospodářství, s.r.o. The second floor contains exhibition and storage spaces for the Benátky Region Museum (Muzeum Benátecka)—a branch of the Mladá Boleslav Region Museum (Muzeum Mladoboleslavska)—which was formerly the municipal museum. Another museum exhibition—Mr. Jiří Fiala’s private toy museum—is located on the ground floor.

Sourse: www.benatky.cz/mesto/pamatky/areal-benateckeho-zamku/zamecka-budova-2276cs.html