Přínos Pernštejnů v urbanistickém vývoji českých měst

Zprávy památkové péče 2013, 73(2):92-101

Contribution of the Pernštejns in the urban development of Czech cities

Karel Kibic

The exhibition "The Pernštejns and Their Time" at Prague Castle, organized in 2012, was dedicated to the life of the nobility in the 15th and 16th centuries, their residences, and their buildings. The article ties into this exhibition to address the significant contribution of the Pernštejns to the development of Czech cities during that period.
Timewise, the realization can be strongly split into the Late Gothic of the 15th century (Tovačov, Přerov) and the early and High Renaissance in the 16th century (Prostějov, Nové Město nad Metují, Pardubice, Litomyšl). The article points out the spatial changes and the pursuits of interests of the nobility and burgher residents in the reconstruction of these cities.
After the separation of the Moravian Margraviate from the Bohemian state in 1468, Moravian Governor Ctibor Tovačovský rebuilt his castle in Tovačov with invitations to the first Renaissance stonemasons in the Czech lands in 1492 and built the city of Nový Tovačov with a planned schedule. In the years 1503-1597, the city was managed by the Pernštejns. In 1475, Vilém of Pernštejn gained the Moravian town of Přerov, where he had Horní Město (Upper Town) built next to his castle, consisting only of the Upper Square (Horní náměstí). Horní Město has been among the most remarkable of realizations since the time of the Jagiellonians.
In Moravia, the Pernštejns acquired Prostějov in 1495. The city had so far been managed from the Plumlov fortified castle, so Vilém of Pernštejn had a residential castle built inside it. This castle is highlighted by its location, with its main view from the square through the newly established piazetta. The city was also rebuilt in Renaissance style, as was the parish church, and a mercantile house was rebuilt into the town hall; this involved the participation of a building school under the guidance of the a head artist.
From the end of the 15th century, the Pernštejns focused on extending their dominion in Bohemia. In 1491, Vilém of Pernštejn acquired Pardubice, where he had the local fortified castle rebuilt into a residential castle. In the first half of the 16th century, Pardubice burnt down twice; after the first fire in 1507, the city was rebuilt in late Gothic style. In 1527, the Pernštejns had purchased the burned Nové Město nad Metují a year before, from where Vojtěch of Pernštejn managed its redevelopment. The main intention was the application from the fortified castle rebuilt into a residential castle in the view from the square, so the houses in the corner were demolished and a small piazetta was created before the castle. Vojtěch had all the houses extended in the front with arcades on the ground floor and a hall upstairs, while enlargement of the parcels was in the interest of the burgher residents; a Town Hall was established in the corner of the square. The early Renaissance reconstruction of the town was once again managed by the building school led by a master whose name is still unknown.
Pardubice was hit by a second devastating fire in 1538, and management of the subsequent reconstruction given by Jan of Pernštejn to his master Jiřík. The conditions in Pardubice were not conducive to expanding the burgher houses into the square, so the second floor was used for their expansion and unified with a Renaissance arched attic. The town hall was established in the corner, emphasized by a tall tented roof with gallery. The city was purchased in 1560 by Ferdinand I. Stylish town halls were built in the small Pernštejn towns of Bohdaneč and Prelouč.
In 1567, Vratislav of Pernštejn received the Litomyšl estate. During his long stay in Italy, he recognized the stately environment and architecture there, and therefore had a new castle built in Litomyšl. It was designed and built by imperial architects and the builders Ulrico and Giovanni Battista Aostalli. The castle is now a World Heritage Site.