Zprávy památkové péče 2015, 75(5):465-472

The beginnings of the English Park in Hradec nad Moravicí in light of archival sources

Romana Rosová

In 1778, the Hradec estate was bought by Jan Karel Hradec Lichnowsky, placing Hradec into possession of the Lichnowsky family for nearly 170 years, significant altering the appearance of the Hradec castle and its surroundings. The son of Jan Karel, Karel Alois, at the end of the 18th century, gradually removed the former castle fortifications and in their place established the foundations of what was initially only an ornamental garden. At the same time, on the south side of the castle buildings there were built the accessories associated with the park such as an orangery, greenhouses, and a winter garden. The beginnings of the park itself fall into the period around 1820; in 1835 F. Ens already mentioned the existence of a "magnificent pleasure garden". Felix Lichnovský (1814-1848) then evidently placed his imprint onto the park together with the important landscape architect Hermann Pückler von Muskau (1785-1871), founder of the great landscape parks in Muskau and Branice. He stayed with him several times and surely became more familiar with his work. Under Karl Maria Lichnovského (1819-1901) the park from the north area of the stables was effectively closed, then the monumental entrance from the south was implemented only partially by the construction of the White Tower.

Keywords: Hradec nad Moravicí, English park, archival research, Lichnowsky family

Published: December 1, 2015  Show citation