UNESCO support for the restoration of monuments in the Czech Republic. UNESCO monuments in the Czech Republic

04.05.2020

Located in Central Europe, the miniature Czech Republic is a country with a rich historical past. United by the Přemyslids in the 9th century, the Czech lands were subsequently turned into royal Bohemia, destroyed by numerous religious and military disputes in the 15th-17th centuries. There was a time when the Czech Republic was part of Austria-Hungary, and then Czechoslovakia. This state gained its last independence in 1993.

Throughout its existence, the Czech Republic carefully preserved its cultural heritage and multiplied it with new objects. Twelve are taken under protection in modern Bohemia historical monuments. All of them are purely architectural and partly landscape in nature. Most of the sites on the World Heritage List are historical centers of medieval cities with their characteristic buildings of Town Halls, Catholic cathedrals, castles, squares, plague columns and bridges.

Czech architectural monuments are predominantly Gothic and Baroque, less often Romanesque and Renaissance in nature. Many of them have been turned into museums.

A significant part of the UNESCO World Heritage sites in the Czech Republic is represented by entire complexes of buildings (often combined with original garden landscapes), perceived as a single architectural composition.

UNESCO monuments in the Czech Republic - PHOTO

The historical center of the capital of the Czech Republic combines elements classic for ancient European cities. Magnificent squares (Old Town Square, Wenceslas Square), surrounded by numerous Gothic and Baroque buildings; narrow streets paved with paving stones; magnificent cathedrals (Tyn Temple, Anege Monastery, etc.); various architectural buildings of the medieval and subsequent eras (local Town Hall, Powder Tower, etc.).

Located in the South Bohemian Region, on ancient city Cesky Krumlov has a unique type of development: the medieval buildings of the historical center follow the bends of the river so that you cannot immediately understand whether the city was built on the banks of the river, or whether the river slowly entered the city. Local architectural attractions include Krumlov Castle (XIV-XVII centuries), Cloak Bridge, St. Vitus Church (XIV-XVII centuries), Town Hall (1580).

The historical center of Telc is called the Moravian Venice: located not far from Prague, this city is surrounded on all sides by reservoirs and a canal. Initially, all the buildings of Stary Telch were wooden. After a fire that occurred at the end of the 14th century, the houses were reconstructed in stone. The main attractions of the historical center of Telc are made in Gothic and Baroque styles. These include Zachariah Square, the Church of the Holy Spirit and St. Anne, the local Town Hall, and the ruins of the fortress wall.

The church dedicated to the holy martyr John of Nepomuk is located near the town of Zdar nad Sazavou. It was built in the 20s of the eighteenth century according to the design of the architect Santini. Created in the shape of a five-pointed star, the church is a striking example of the unique Baroque Gothic style. The number five is embodied in the entire structure of the church, which has five exits, five altar niches, five angels and stars decorating the main altar. Digital symbolism comes from the legend according to which a crown topped with five stars rose over the body of the drowned John of Nepomuk.

5. Kutna Hora: historical Center towns with the Church of St. Barbara and cathedral Our Lady of Sedlec

Founded in the first half of the thirteenth century, the Czech city of Kutna Hora is famous for its numerous monuments gothic architecture. Cathedral of St. Barbara - the second most important catholic church Czech Republic. It is made in the late Gothic style. The Cathedral of Our Lady in Sedlec combines Gothic and Baroque elements. The circle of historical attractions of Kutna Hora includes the Cathedral of St. Jacob, the Archbishopric, and the Jesuit College of the 17th century.

The Moravian residence of the Dukes of Liechtenstein consists of a Baroque palace located in the small town of Valtice and the neighboring Lednice manor. The Feldsberg building is surrounded by an elegant English park covering an area of two hundred square kilometers. The palace is connected to Lednice by a seven-kilometer linden alley. Every year a tasting and sale of Moravian wines is held in the palace cellar.

Situated on the Morava River in Eastern Moravia, Kroměříž is famous for its unique fifteenth-century palace and park ensemble. It includes a large archiepiscopal castle, built in the late Baroque style, and surrounding gardens. The interior of the castle is made in the Rococo style, and its halls contain masterpieces of world painting. Founded in the second half of the 17th century, the Flower Garden is decorated with antique sculptures and an octagonal rotunda.

The Czech village of Holašovice is a classic Central European rural settlement. Local houses were built in the 18th-19th centuries. Their architectural style belongs to the South Bohemian folk baroque. In the center of the village there is a picturesque pond surrounded by three dozen houses built in the first half of the nineteenth century. The streets of Holašovice are distinguished by medieval sophistication and elegance. The number of village residents is about one hundred and fifty people.

Litomyšl Castle was built on the site of an ancient Slavic fortification at the beginning of the 16th century as the ancestral seat of the Pernštejn family. The architectural concept of the castle is made in the Renaissance style. The main distinguishing feature of the structure is its numerous arcades. Currently, inside the castle there is an art gallery with paintings by famous artists. After the Second World War, Litomysl functions as the Museum of Czech Music.

The Holy Trinity Column in the city of Olomouc is a classic plague pillar, erected in Europe as gratitude for ridding the region of a terrible epidemic or war. The Olomouc monument took thirty-eight years to build, from 1716 to 1754. At the base of the column there is a small chapel. On the lower level there are sculptures of Saints Mauritius and Wenceslas (he is considered the patron saint), on the middle - local saints, on the upper - people related to the earthly life of Jesus Christ.

Villa Tugendhat was built in the first third of the 20th century according to the design of the famous German architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe. The two-story building, designed in Art Nouveau style, does not contain any picturesque images. It uses an onyx wall as decoration, which allows the sun's rays to pass through unhindered and changes its color during sunrise and sunset. Since 1994, Villa Tugendhat has been turned into a museum.

12. Jewish district and Basilica of St. Prokop in the city of Třebíč

The city of Třebíč, located in Western Moravia, has almost completely preserved the area of the Jewish ghetto, consisting of one hundred and twenty houses and eleven thousand graves. Rising in the center of the city, the Basilica of St. Procopius, built in the first half of the thirteenth century, is an example of the architectural transition from Romanesque to Gothic style. Two monuments of Jewish and Christian culture are a striking historical example of the coexistence of two different peoples within one city.

The UNESCO heritage in the Czech Republic is represented by historical and cultural monuments. Among them, of course, the capital of the country stands out. Prague is home to many unique attractions known throughout the world. In the city you can see gothic cathedrals and churches. In their neighborhood there are baroque palaces, magnificent buildings built during the Renaissance, theaters, government buildings and other objects of incredible beauty. Throughout its history, starting from the 11th century, Prague has delighted architects from all over Europe. Due to its unique status and unique beauty, the city was included in World Heritage.

The gardens and castle of Kromeriz are also included in the UNESCO list in the Czech Republic. They are located in the Kromeritz area. The majestic castle was built at the end of the 15th century in the Baroque style. Inside, the palace is decorated with paintings, frescoes and other decorative elements. It was used as a residence for bishops and archbishops. But the main attraction of Kromeritz was the gardens laid out in front of the castle. Their unique style has become an excellent example of ideal park baroque. The total area of the gardens is about sixty hectares. Unique centuries-old trees grow here, there are fountains and lush flower beds.

The castle complex in the town of Litomysl is also under UNESCO protection in the Czech Republic. Built in the 16th century, it became an example of the Czech Renaissance. The outside of the castle is decorated with a phial. It is adjacent to several courtyards. The complex also includes the Chapel of St. Monica. The lush beauty of this Czech landmark and its unique role in the development of European architecture have determined the palace's place as a World Heritage Site.

No less interesting is the Romanesque-Gothic Basilica of St. Prokop in Trebic. It is recognized as a most valuable example of Christian architecture. The basilica was built back in the 13th century.

The picturesque historical center of Prague is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Europe. The Czechs are rightfully proud of their capital, which is not only political and economic, but also cultural center countries.

The historical center of Prague is quite compact, it fits a large number of most interesting sights. The main one is the famous Charles Bridge, located in the center of the old city. On both sides of the bridge there are magnificent towers, Malostranska and Staromestska, and the bridge itself is decorated with many baroque statues. The dominant feature of the magnificent Prague Castle, which claims to be the largest castle complex in the world, is the Cathedral of St. Vita, the construction of which lasted almost six centuries. The picturesque Old Town Square is given its unique appearance by the Old Town Hall with its famous chimes and the Church of the Virgin Mary before Tyn. A little further away are the Public House (an example of Prague Art Nouveau) and Wenceslas Square with the National Museum. The historical center of Prague was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1992.

View of Prague Castle and St. Vita

Cathedral of St. Vita

Church of the Virgin Mary before Tyn

National Museum

2. Historical center of Cesky Krumlov

Cesky Krumlov is a well-preserved medieval city that was once the richest and most influential political center in the region. Here is the second largest castle complex in Europe - the magnificent Krumlov Castle. Next to it is a unique Baroque theater, where performances are still occasionally given, and the Cloak Bridge, an impressive multi-arched structure. The main square in the city is Svornosti Square with the Plague Pillar, traditional for the region. Cesky Krumlov, like Prague, stands on the Vltava River. The city was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1992.

Krumlov Castle in Cesky Krumlov

3. Telč historical center

Founded in the 14th century. The town of Telč is located in a picturesque location in South Moravia. The historic city center is bordered on both sides by ponds. The most significant attractions are Main square and Renaissance Telc Castle, from the towers of which a picturesque view opens. Having survived a serious fire in 1530, the city was rebuilt in the Renaissance style, and since then its appearance has remained virtually unchanged. The city center was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1992.

Telč main square

Telč Castle

4. Holasovice

The village of Holašovice, located in Southern Bohemia, is a unique example of a Central European village. Here, a complex of historical buildings in an original environment has been preserved in almost original form. The village is a complex of rural buildings in the style of the so-called folk baroque. After the Second War, the village began to decline, but in the 1990s. was restored. In 1998 it was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Village Holasovice

5. Historical center of Kutna Hora and Sedlec

The city of Kutna Hora was founded in the 13th century. and developed as a rich center for the silver mining industry. In its historical center are Cathedral of St. Barbara And Church of St. James. A little further away, in the village Sedlec, located cathedral Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary and gloomy crypt, which contains coats of arms, crosses and other objects made from bones and skulls. The center of Kutná Hora and Sedlec were included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1995.

View of the historical center of Kutna Hora

Cathedral of St. James in Kutna Hora

Cathedral of St. Barbara in Kutna Hora

Ceiling of the Cathedral of St. Barbara

Chapel of All Saints in Sedlec (outskirts of Kutna Hora)

Ossuary in the Chapel of All Saints

6. Villa Tugendhat in Brno

Villa Tugendhat, designed by the famous architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe in 1928-1930. is located in the second largest city in the Czech Republic - Brno. A characteristic architectural feature of this building is the absence of load-bearing walls: the building is supported by a metal frame. It is also characteristic that the architect even created furniture for the home, some of which was put into mass production. Valuable onyx stone was used in the decoration of the room. Villa Tugendhat was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2001.

Southwestern façade of Villa Tugendhat

Interior of Villa Tugendhat

7. Kromeriz Gardens and Castle

In a small town Kromeriz located in South Moravia Bishop's residence- a palace and park ensemble created in the 15th century. in the Renaissance style. Subsequently, the residence was rebuilt several times. Gardens It is considered one of the best-preserved monuments of landscape gardening architecture in the Baroque style in Europe. The palace and gardens in Kroměříž were listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1998.

Kromeriz

Gardens of Kromeriz

8. Pilgrimage Church of St. Nicholas of Nepomuk on Green Mountain

Not far from the city Ždar nad Sazavou, which is in the region of South Moravia, is worth Pilgrimage Church of St. Nicholas of Nepomuk on Green Mountain. The building was built by the visionary architect Giovanni Santini in 1720. A special feature of the architectural design of the church building is its five-pointed shape in plan. It is explained by a legend that is associated with the name of St. John of Nepomuk: over the place under the Charles Bridge, where the body of John, tortured to death, was thrown into the river, a glow of five stars appeared. The number five is repeated as a refrain in the architecture of the church, as well as in the design of its interior. The church was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994.

Pilgrimage Church of St. Nicholas of Nepomuk

Window in the Church of St. Nicholas of Nepomuk

9. Cultural landscape of Lednice-Valtice

Lednice-Valtice Palace and Park Complex located in South Moravia, close to the Austrian border. Besides Valtice Castle(XVIII century) and Lednice Castle(XIX century), between which there is a 7-kilometer alley, the complex includes many buildings: arcades, colonnades, temples, etc. This cultural landscape, the total area of which reaches 200 sq. km., once belonged to the powerful European dynasty of Liechtenstein, whose members lived here in the 17th-20th centuries. The cultural landscape of Lednice-Valtice was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996.

Castle in Valtice

Castle in Lednice

10. Litomyšl Castle

Litomyšl Castle located in the Czech city of the same name ( Litomysl), one of the oldest in the Czech Republic. The castle is one of the best examples of Renaissance palace architecture in Central and Eastern Europe. Pernštejn Castle, as it is sometimes called (in honor of the first owner, Duke of the Kingdom of Bohemia Vratislav Pernštejn), in its current form was built in 1568-81. The most striking fragments of the complex include sgraffito on external wall buildings (one of the most beautiful of its kind in the former Austria-Hungary) and a well-preserved palace theater from the 18th century, one of the oldest in Europe. The castle ensemble was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1999.

Since then, this organization, in accordance with the adopted convention, has been protecting, restoring and trying by any means to preserve selected monuments created by both man and nature. The organization is trying to preserve these landmarks for future generations.

Czech Republic to UNESCO (or rather, at that time - Czechoslovakia) joined in 1990. After the collapse of Czechoslovakia, the newly created Czech Republic also supported an existing project to protect its own monuments.

12 objects from the Czech Republic were included in the list of UNESCO monuments. This number of objects under the care of UNESCO is almost a record in relation to the area of the state itself. The monuments of the Czech Republic are equated in their cultural value to the pyramid complex in Egypt, as well as the Athenian Acropolis.

Actually, UNESCO sites in the Czech Republic(next to it is the year when the object was included in the list):

Historical center of Prague - 1992
Historical center of Cesky Krumlov - 1992
Historical center of Telč – 1992
Zdiar nad Sazavou - Church of St. John of Nepomuk on Green Mountain - 1994
Historical center of Kutná Hora – 1995
Lednice – Lednice-Valtice complex – 1996
Rural reservation Holasovice 1998
Kromeriz - complex of castle and gardens -1998
Litomysl Castle and its area -1999
Pillar of the Holy Trinity in Olomouc - 2000
Villa Tugendhat Brno – 2001
Trebic - Basilica of St. Prokop and the Jewish Quarter - 2003
Bohemian Paradise Nature Reserve – 2005

I would like to tell you more about the Czech Paradise. This is a very old reserve, which this year celebrated the 50th anniversary of its foundation. The Bohemian Paradise Nature Reserve covers almost the entire territory of the region of the same name. In 2005 it was included in the UNESCO list of protected European geoparks. Today, this park, among the parks of other newly arrived states in the EU, is the only one that is equal to such reserves as the petrified forest on the island of Lesbos, in Greece.

Biosphere reserves of the Czech Republic

UNESCO also has a program called “Man and the Biosphere”. It includes a whole range biosphere reserves. This program contains all the existing varieties of ecosystems in the world.

In the Czech Republic, the status of such reserves has been assigned to the regions of the White Carpathians, Palava, Šumava, Třebonsko, Krkonose, Křivoklatsko.

So far not on the UNESCO lists, but the following attractions claim to be such:

Mount Landeck;
city of Pardubice;
the Eronim mine (Sokolovsky region), built in the Middle Ages;
Renaissance houses in Slavonice;
area of military fortification in Gluczyn-Darkovichki-u-Opawy;
paper factory in Velki Losiny;
rock towns in the Bohemian Paradise;
fishing spots in Třebońsko – lakes Zlata Stoka, Svet, Rožmberk with the “Rožmberk Bashta”, Stara and Novaya rivers (monument - “Rožmberk Fishery Complex”); the city of Třebon itself, as a city reservation of objects;
Heb Castle;
hotel in the mountains with the Jested TV tower;
rock sculptures “Bethlehem (neighborhood of Kuks);
Müller's Villa, Břevnov Monastery, summer residence“Star” with a nature reserve (as an extension of the boundaries of the UNESCO monument Historic Core of Prague);
Lazne Luhacovice,
city of Karlštejn,
Mikulčice – Velkomaros fortification,
Ostrava industrial complex - Anselm mine in Petrškovice - Gornica Museum, Mikhail mine in Michałkovice, Vrbice wind mine shaft, Vitkovice metallurgical plant with the Glubina mine;
horse breeding farm in the town of Kladruby nad Labem;

Traditionally, the measure of the uniqueness of a cultural or natural site is its relationship to the UNESCO World Heritage List. Belonging to it is, to a certain extent, an indicator of the level of significance of the visited object for national and global culture. We should not forget that the significance and cultural uniqueness of a cultural or natural site cannot guarantee the intensity of a tourist’s impressions when viewing or visiting it, because not every site on the World Heritage List becomes a tourist attraction. All this is also true for the sights of the Czech Republic: some of the twelve Czech UNESCO monuments are well known throughout the world and are objects of mass tourism, while the names of the rest will not say anything even to those who have repeatedly visited the Czech Republic and assume that they have become acquainted with all the sights Czech Republic. Many of the UNESCO monuments are visited during popular tours, some are only accessible independently or as part of a tour.

Cultural and natural sites of the Czech Republic included in the UNESCO World Heritage List

HISTORICAL CENTER OF PRAGUE- the most famous and visited point in the Czech Republic and, perhaps, one of the most famous among all World Heritage sites. Architectural monuments belong to the broad historical period of the 11th-18th centuries; you can read in more detail about the various sights of Prague and the excursions during which they are visited.

HISTORICAL CENTER OF CESKY KRUMLO B is an outstanding example of a perfectly preserved urban landscape of a Central European medieval city, located in an extremely picturesque natural landscape on the winding banks of the Vltava. The city arose around an originally Gothic castle from the 13th century. Cesky Krumlov is one of the most frequently visited cities in the Czech Republic by tourists; you can come here either independently or by ordering, or together with.

HISTORICAL CENTER OF TELČ- a medieval town with a Renaissance market square and a Gothic castle, is a perfectly preserved example of medieval town planning. The buildings that make up the ensemble of the market square were originally wooden, but were rebuilt from stone after a fire at the end of the 14th century. Unfortunately, the city is not popular among Russian-speaking tourists; you can visit it on your own or during.

PILGRIM CHURCH OF ST. JAN OF NEPOMUK on Zelena Gora, Zdar nad Sazavou - the church was built in honor of St. John of Nepomuk at the beginning of the 18th century, the building is literally imbued with the symbolism of the numbers 3 and 5. The church is considered the most unusual creation of the architect G. Santini, it combines the features of neo-Gothic and Baroque sacred architecture. The church is very popular among pilgrims, but cannot boast of special attention from secular tourists. This is due to the low entertainment value of the monument and the difficulty of perceiving its uniqueness. The church is sometimes visited as part of group excursions to the city of Trebic. We recommend visiting on your own or as part of an Individual excursion.

HISTORICAL CENTER OF KUTNA HORA with the Church of St. Barbara and the Cathedral of Our Lady of Sedlec - the pearl of Central Bohemia, with beautiful examples of late Gothic and Baroque architecture. The city played an important role in the development of the Czech Kingdom, as it was home to silver mines and the famous Prague groschen. Not only the Church of St. Barbara and the Cathedral of Our Lady in Sedlec deserve attention, but also the perfectly preserved medieval urban development. The city is well known to Russian-speaking tourists and is visited both in combination with the castle and in demand.

CULTURAL LANDSCAPE OF LEDNICE-VALTICE- a wonderful example of a palace and park ensemble, combining Baroque, classical and neo-Gothic architecture with a romantic English park landscape. Lednice-Valtice is considered one of the most extensive man-made landscapes in Europe, created and supervised by representatives of the family of the Dukes of Liechtenstein for more than three hundred years. Valtice Castle hosts a well-known tasting exhibition of the best hundred wines Czech Republic. Despite the fact that the Lednice-Valtice area is quite well known, it is, unfortunately, visited only as part of Individual excursions, since it is located at a considerable distance from the Czech capital.

GARDENS AND CASTLE OF KROMERIŽA- an exceptional palace and park ensemble in the European Baroque style, which has been perfectly preserved to this day. The gardens and castle in Kromeriz played a significant role in the development of Baroque garden and castle art in Central Europe. Not visited as part of Group excursions, as it is little known to Russian-speaking tourists. In addition, the city is located away from popular tourist routes. It is possible to organize an Individual excursion.

HISTORIC VILLAGE OF HOLASOVICE - unique monument so-called South Bohemian folk baroque, which is a perfectly preserved traditional Central European village from the 18th and 19th centuries, built according to a medieval layout. This object is not very well known to Russian-speaking tourists, although it is located along the route of a very popular group excursion to Cesky Krumlov and the Hluboka nad Vltavou castle. This is most likely due to the insufficient entertainment value of the landscape of the historical Czech village, even if well preserved, for the average tourist from the countries of the former Soviet Union.

CASTLE IN LITOMISH- an outstanding and perfectly preserved example of the so-called. arcade castle - an architectural model of an aristocratic residence that originated in Italy and was widely developed in Central Europe starting from the 16th century. The castle in Litomishli demonstrates what the aristocratic residences of Central Europe looked like during the Renaissance, as well as their subsequent development under the influence of new trends in architectural taste. The castle is not visited by group excursions; it is possible to visit it independently or Individual excursion. We highly recommend combining a visit to the city with a visit to the annual international opera festival Smetanova Litomysl.

COLUMN OF ST. TRINITY IN OLOMOUC- an outstanding monument to the local variety of Central European Baroque, the so-called. "Olomouc Baroque" represents a unique material manifestation of religiosity in Central Europe during the Baroque era. The 35-meter column crowned the restoration work of the city of Olomouc after the Thirty Years' War and was inaugurated in 1754 in the presence of Empress Maria Theresa. The column is decorated with beautiful sculptures by the outstanding Moravian artist Ondřej Zagner. Group excursions in Russian do not visit the city of Olomouc. We recommend a visit on your own, combined with relaxation at a unique natural resort.

VILLA TUGENDGAT IN BRNO- the clearest example of modernist architecture of the early 20th century. The villa was designed by the German architect Misem van der Rohe, its spatial and aesthetic concept is designed to meet the needs of a new lifestyle; the construction used advanced materials and industrial production technologies for its time. The villa is located in the private sector of Brno, easily accessible by car. Unfortunately, the villa is not visited as part of group excursions in the Czech Republic; an independent visit or a visit as part of Individual excursions is possible.

JEWISH AREA AND BASILICA OF ST. PROKOPA IN TRESEBIC- a unique monument of its kind, the coexistence of Jewish and Christian cultures side by side throughout the Middle Ages to the present day. The Jewish district in Třebíč, which includes the Old Jewish Cemetery and the Basilica of St. Prokop, which was built as part of a Benedictine monastery in the early 13th century, is a remarkable example of Western European influence. architectural heritage in the Czech region Vysočina. The city of Třebíč is sometimes visited as part of group excursions, together with the pilgrimage church of St. John of Nepomuk on Green Mountain. We recommend visiting on your own or as part of an Individual excursion.