Lednice. Getting a summer house has been popular from time to time even in Sweden, but usually you think of something small and relatively simple. So I definitely thought not the Liechtenstein family when they acquired Chateau Lednice in the southern Czech Republic back in the day. The bigger the better seems to have been their motto.
Table of contents
A family without economic hardship
It was at the end of the 13th century that the Liechtenstein family became owners of a Gothic fortress in Lednice. The family held high positions in the military and acquired further wealth by marrying smart (read: rich).
Chateau Lednice
In the 17th century, one of the family members, Karel Liechtenstein, was also granted princely status and a duchy. Then, when the nobility managed to put down an attempted rebellion, the family took the opportunity to 'seize' property confiscated from the rebels, making them the richest in the area.
Chateau Lednice - today a museum
Chateau Lednice, which today serves as museum, dates from 1846-1858, when Prince Alois II of Lichtenstein decided that Vienna was not suitable for summer holidays. Instead, he had the castle in Lednice rebuilt with sumptuous rooms for banquets for the European aristocracy.
Leave his castle Chateau Lednice
During World War II, the Lichtenstein family was forced to leave Chateau Lednice, which was confiscated by the state, and they simply went to ... Lichtenstein. Leaving this castle can't have been fun, but the guides convinced us that we don't have to feel sorry for the family, which is apparently still one of the very richest.
The castle garden
Now we were content to stroll around the fantastic castle garden and take a turn in the splendid greenhouse. Peter has also made a little film from here, with a "fairy tale" theme!
The city of Mikulov and the wine regions
If you visit Lednice Castle, there is much more to see in the surrounding area. Firstly, you can visit the stunningly beautiful small town of Mikulov and Mikulov Castle (which was also owned by the Lichtenstein family!). There is also the wine region Velke Bilovice next door, where white wine is primarily produced.
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Ama de casa says:
What a bar! I was wondering if the Liechtenstein family had delusions of grandeur and later acquired a whole country, and that seems to be the case too 🙂 ).
To quote Hasse Alfredsson from the sketch "A cup of coffee":
- That's what I call summertime!
😀
21 July 2016 - 7:58
Lena in Wales says:
What a place! Interesting history of the family too.
It is fortunate that today it is open to the public and not just inhabited by a rich family.
Enjoy your stay in the Czech Republic!
21 July 2016 - 8:15
Fantasy Dining says:
Wow, how beautiful! The Czech Republic seems amazing!
21 July 2016 - 10:15
Goatfish says:
My jaw just drops! What a castle! 😀 "Something" bigger than the castle we visited yesterday 😉 (Läckö Castle).
I can't get enough of all the wealth. Probably they were happy too (important).
However, I can drink coffee on my balcony, it can accommodate me and a couple of others 😉 one must be happy for the other ...
Hugs <3
21 July 2016 - 10:27
Ditte says:
Mighty palace! And a smart move to find someone with a lot of money to finance it all...
And a castle in exchange for a country is also quite ok. Some of the palaces I've seen on the outside and a few on the inside in Lichtenstein itself are pretty grand too. The influences were probably brought along...
Understand that you have seen and experienced a lot in the Czech Republic and very nice to take part of this.
And your trip seems to have been very well organised with guides, visits, activities, accommodation and other things, and that's what you want if you want to do everything in a week. (Realise that it takes more time and effort if you have to find all the pearls yourself...)
21 July 2016 - 10:43
admin says:
Ama de casa, yes haha, you can call this a summer cottage ... right? 😉 And yes, the family has apparently fixed their own country instead. Perhaps not so bad either 😉.
Lena in Wales, yes I can agree! Today, many palaces and castles are open to the public, and it is fantastic that you can get access to experience this!
Fantasy Dining. There really is a lot to see in the Czech Republic! We have been particularly impressed by Brno and these areas of castles and vineyards south of Brno.
Geddfish, wealth doesn't automatically bring happiness, even if some money makes it easier (but too much money might complicate things too?). You can probably be just as happy in the sun on your own balcony, I think! But it is fantastic that you can get access to and see such castles!
Ditte, it seems exciting to see Liechtenstein too! Yes, our trip was of course quite intense and organised. My advice would be to go to Brno. It's a great city with lots to see. From there you can then take different excursions if you want, either by hired car or guided tours.
21 July 2016 - 10:50
4000mil says:
Nice place! About the same size as my summer cottage if I can use the eye measure. Ok maybe a LITTLE bigger then...
In September, we are going to "castle feast" in Transylvania!
21 July 2016 - 11:20
Maria's Memoirs says:
Oh my gosh, how magnificent...! I would have settled for living in the stables 😉 By the way, do you know if the Liechtenstein family has any connection to the country of Liechtenstein? Is there a reason why the family has the same name as the country, or is it just a funny coincidence?
21 July 2016 - 13:11
admin says:
4000 miles, haha a little bigger maybe, but the advantage of a smaller summer house is on the other hand that there are fewer rooms to clean 😉 Castle in Transylvania sounds exciting!
Maria, the country of Liechtenstein is probably not a coincidence! This family seems to have been extremely powerful and had various principalities. Some of these merged to form Liechtenstein, if I understand correctly.
21 July 2016 - 13:57
Lennart says:
Truly magnificent house!!!
21 July 2016 - 17:19
Diana'sDreams says:
Wow, what a place 🙂 hugs
21 July 2016 - 19:10
BP says:
Talk about delusions of grandeur and opulence! Strangely enough, I have never associated the former Czechoslovakia with families that were so disgustingly rich. You learn as long as you live.
21 July 2016 - 20:46
snort says:
It was certainly a magnificent castle! What wealth some people had...
21 July 2016 - 20:53
admin says:
Lennart, yes to say the least 😉
Diana's dreams, that was fascinating to see!
BP, no I don't know if I've done that either, but in this part of the Czech Republic there are apparently a lot of castles.
Znogge, some people are really unnecessarily rich... 😉 😉
21 July 2016 - 21:52
Matts Torebring says:
What a lot you get to see and what history you see. Incredible!
21 July 2016 - 22:01
Ulrika says:
What a cool home! I can only imagine what it might have looked like when the ladies were swinging their flowing skirts in those rooms!
22 July 2016 - 5:05
Linda, 155cm.se says:
Hujedamig, the economic distribution in this world is truly unequal in this world! The pictures you have taken!
22 July 2016 - 8:37
admin says:
Matts, yes we can only agree! We have seen a lot of interesting things during this trip!
Ulrika, it's always fascinating to try to imagine what life was like in a place in the past 🙂 ).
Linda, the world has never been fair, now or in the past... At least now the public has access to buildings like this! 🙂
22 July 2016 - 14:26
JoY says:
Interesting and what contrasts of houses/castles you visit.
Hugs
22 July 2016 - 23:10
admin says:
JoY, yes there are sights of various kinds in the Czech Republic 😉.
23 July 2016 - 13:03
pilla says:
What a palace! Awesome!
24 July 2016 - 8:17
Lena - good for the soul says:
Wow, what a place! A neat little summer cottage! Great to see and visit, I can imagine, but so far from what I would like to have myself!
Hug Lena
25 July 2016 - 7:46
Erik says:
wonderful pictures from Czechia
02 July 2017 - 12:29