Znojmo Castle
Znojmo castle
Thanks to the exceptional location of the site where Znojmo Castle is situated, the first people settled here as early as the 4th millennium BCE. A significant find from the older Bronze Age includes a depot of 70 copper bracelets. The promontory was a strategic and easily defensible location, leading Moravian and later Czech Prince Konrad I, and his son Litolt, to choose it in the second half of the 11th century for the construction of a new wooden and clay castle. Up until that time, the Moravian Přemyslids administered the Znojmo region from the nearby Hippolytus Hill. The new castle was more defensible and better guarded the old merchant route leading from Austria over Kraví hora and the Dyje valley to the north.
In the first half of the 12th century, Znojmo Castle suffered disputes between the Czech and Moravian Přemyslids. During this time, a mint operated here, producing coins for the Znojmo appanage principality. The castle served as the residence of Moravian margraves Konrad Otto and Vladislav Henry, who rebuilt the castle into a stone structure, fortifying it with strong walls and an unconventional octagonal tower (known as the Robber's Tower, which collapsed in 1892). After the demise of the Znojmo principality in the late 12th century, the castle was administered by castellans or constables, later becoming royal captains.
King Přemysl Otakar I founded the first institutional town in southern Moravia on the castle's outskirts between 1222 and 1226. Znojmo Castle was a frequent destination for Czech monarchs traveling from Bohemia to Austria and a site for many diplomatic negotiations. For instance, in 1335, King John of Luxembourg married his youngest daughter Anna to the Duke Otto IV of Austria here. During the Hussite Wars, Znojmo Castle served as a stronghold for King and later Emperor Sigismund of Luxembourg, who died here in 1437. From the second half of the 15th century, the castle was often pledged by monarchs and then redeemed. Queen Marie, widow of Louis Jagiellon, stayed here in 1529-1530. A few years later, during increased Turkish danger, the castle was found to be in very poor condition and was repaired and strengthened by order of the Moravian Landtag. After the suppression of the Estates Uprising, the castle was confiscated in 1621 by the pledge holder William of Roupov. Despite being partially restored as a provincial fortress after a fire in 1630, its significance and maintenance rapidly declined.
By the end of the 17th century, it was already half in ruins. By decree of Emperor Joseph I in 1709, the rear part of the castle was granted as a fief to the counts of Deblín. The front part of the castle with the rotunda, Robber's Tower, and stables were bought by citizens of Znojmo, who founded a brewery here in 1720. The Deblíns had the old castle palace beyond the moat demolished and, in its place, built a new Baroque palace with an honor court facing the Dyje Valley between 1711 and 1721. When Count Joseph of Deblín died without male heirs in 1784, the castle reverted to the emperor. The inventory was soon sold off, and the empty castle building served as occasional barracks and a military hospital throughout the 19th century.
In 1910, a portion and after 1922, the entire building of Deblín Castle was adapted by the city of Znojmo for a museum.
The castle's entrance hall was adorned with frescoes around 1720 by Jan Michael Fisée (1686 - 1732). The window reveals feature portraits of Czech monarchs, and the medallions beneath the dome depict Habsburg rulers from the 15th century. The female figures in the dome represent the Allegory of Harmony and the Glory of the Lands of the Czech Crown.
