Palace in Ploskovice
Ploskovice 1, Ploskovice
Ploskovice overlooks the Elbe River, just a few kilometers east of Litoměřice. The municipality is renowned for its magnificent castle, built in the first half of the 18th century for Anna Maria Franziska von Sachsen-Lauenburg. As the most significant noblewoman of her time in the Kingdom of Bohemia, she became famous for her luxurious lifestyle, eloquently expressed in the construction and design of her castles.
According to historical records, the castle arose from an unhappy marriage with the Tuscan Duke Gaston. Since Gaston mainly resided in Italy, she opted to build a castle that could rival the splendid aristocratic seats of Italy. Although there is no clear evidence of the planning and construction of the castle, the Czech architect and personal builder of Anna Maria Franziska, Václav Špaček, is generally associated with it.
In 1849, the Austrian Emperor Ferdinand I. of Habsburg chose the castle as his summer residence, prompting an expansion with two additional wings. During this period, Josef Navrátil, one of the most sought-after Bohemian painters of the 19th century, created magnificent frescoes. After over five years of work, the visible castle complex emerged, nearly unscathed after surviving the Second World War.
Today, the castle is owned by the National Heritage Institute and is open to the public. The opulent setting and lavishly decorated interiors make it a popular filming location for various music and media productions.
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