Plumlov Chateau - Tourist Information Portal of the Olomouc Region

Plumlov Chateau


Plumlov
Free admission with ORC

The construction of this early Mannerist chateau on the site of a 13th century castle was started in 1680 by Jan Adam of Liechtenstein. However, only one of the four intended grand wings was built. The façade is particularly impressive, articulated by massive columns.

The castle hosts annual music and theatre festivals and workshops with international participation. There is also an exhibition of paintings, an exhibition dedicated to the history of the castle, a collection of church vestments and an exhibition presenting aviation during World War II.

History of the castle

Reconstruction of Plumlov Castle Pluml Castle was built in 1680-1690 by Jan Adam of Liechtenstein. The reason for this construction was the absence of a residence corresponding to their wealth and social status. Charles of Liechtenstein's successor, Prince Charles Eusebius, resided permanently in Valtice, but his son, Jan Adam, began to consider the idea of repairing and rebuilding Pluml castle. Karel Eusebius, who had been interested in architecture for many years, first proposed an extension of the third floor of the castle, but later changed his mind and proposed to his son to build a new, large four-winged castle according to his own design. He was strongly influenced by the Renaissance in his architectural views. According to the designer's original idea, Pluml castle was to be a four-winged building in the form of a square with two rows of rooms in each wing. The building was to have three floors with a rich façade, decorated on the inside and outside with loose monolithic columns throughout the entire height, each layer of which was to be different according to classical Renaissance rules. Family feuds Between 1680 and 1681, Prince Jan Adam personally supervised the construction. However, he soon got into a dispute with his father, Karl Eusebius, because he did not follow his plans exactly and preferred more economical solutions. Instead of two rows of rooms, he had only one row built and rejected his father's proposal to decorate the outer façade facing the pond with columns. Already in the second year of construction, the Savoyard sandstone was replaced in places on the façade with brickwork and stucco. The old prince, who dreamed of building the most magnificent building in Moravia, was distressed by these changes, as well as by the unsuitability of the site on which the building was built. As a result of a misunderstanding with his father, the young Jan Adam finally left Plumlov with his wife at the end of the summer of 1681 and left the supervision of the building to the governor of Plumlov.

The end of great plans

At the beginning of 1684, when the building had already reached the last floor, its designer Karel Eusebius of Liechtenstein died. The interest in its continuation waned and Prince Jan Adam had it stopped in the middle of the year. By then it was clear that only a torso of the designer's original idea would remain, as the entire project would have required a financial outlay prohibitive even for the wealthy Liechtensteiners. In 1685, the building was roofed and the interior renovations began. The stucco decoration of the hall, rooms and corridors was entrusted to the Italian-born stucco artist Jan Baptista Brentani. The stucco decoration of the hall is the most artistically valuable part of the castle interiors and was completed in 1686. In the following years, the painting and decorating work slowly came to an end, but was finally discontinued in 1690. The castle remained unoccupied and was not furnished with any furniture. It was not until 1692, when Prince John Adam finally decided to see the completed building, that four rooms were hastily furnished, in which the Liechtensteins stayed during their sporadic and short visits to the estate. The intermediate floors housed the manor's ushers and the top floor remained unfinished. When the castle was damaged by a storm in 1801, the then owner of the estate, Prince Alois of Liechtenstein, even considered demolishing it. However, on the recommendation of the Pluml officials, he had only the old castle demolished. After 1850, the castle served as a district court and tax office, and the habitable floors were used as apartments for officials. Later, the castle was acquired by the State Military Forest Administration, which owned it until 1965. In 1964-65 the castle was partially renovated.

The final appearance of the castle

The building has a total of 6 storeys with two floors and three mezzanines. The courtyard façade connects each floor and mezzanine by a single row of loose columns, terminating in complex capitals, Tuscan on the ground floor, Ionic on the third floor and composite on the top floor. The individual floors are separated by cornices under which stucco friezes run the length of the building. The windows of the main floors are decorated with conical balustrades. In 1987 the Museum of Prostějov Region became the owner of the castle and in 1994 it became the property of the municipality of Plumlov, which immediately started the most necessary repairs. 

Zavřít

Tourist information


Zámecká 99
798 03 Plumlov

Do you know


  • In its final form, the castle has an unusual appearance, as its dimensions were chosen with respect to the originally designed four-winged building.
  • Among regular events, we recommend visiting the night fairy tale tours (April-October) and the Swordplay Weekend (August).