Castle Gardens
Český
Krumlov Chateau - Rococo summerhouse, Bellaria, Archiv Vydavatelství MCU
s.r.o. The character of the Upper Garden is somewhat reminiscent of a
landscaped park, in some places almost like a forest. It was composed as
Baroque as corresponds to its layout, which agrees with the garden‘s layout map
from 1750. The axis of the area is formed by a path from the fountain to the
castle pond at the farthest end of the garden. The path passes by the renowned
(and much disputed) revolving auditorium. This auditorium is located near the
architecturally valuable Bellarie Summer House, the current form of which comes
from a Rococo reconstruction from the latter 18th century. The Summer House is
also known for its artificial grotto as well as its “magic table” – a special
lift that brought food from the kitchen to the noble rooms upstairs.To the west
of the castle, on a slight hill above the 5th courtyard, is the castle garden
with an area of more than 11 hectares (rectangular-shaped with dimensions of
150 × 765 m). There are two access roads leading to it from the gatehouse. The
path leading up on the left brings you to the main gate of the garden, while
the right path first leads you to the great Winter Riding School. This was
built in 1745 and served for equestrian training during bad weather. The Riding
School today functions as a social hall and restaurant. Next to the winter riding
school there are two smaller enclosed terraces. The lower one was designated as
the orchard and fulfilled the role of private gardens for the castle lords – it
was also known as the Royal Garden. Above it leads a passage through which the
nobility could walk undisturbed to the castle garden from inside the castle.
The higher terraces were used as a summer riding school. Above these terraces,
the Lower Parterre spreads out, accounting for nearly half the area of the
castle garden. It is decorated by flower beds shaped into Rococo ornaments,
with several massive oaks and beeches. Approximately in the center of the
garden, on the boundary between the Lower Parterre and the higherpositioned
Upper Garden, stands the rococo Neptune Fountain, built during modifications in
1750. It consists of four levels of cascades decorated with sculptures of sea
deities, allegories of the seasons and various aquatic animals.
The first
revolving auditorium, built in 1958, had a capacity of only 60 seats. Its great
success soon led to the construction of a larger auditorium for 400 persons,
moved by 40 soldiers hidden inside the body. Later reconstructions further
increased the capacity; today it holds 658 viewers. It’s worth noting that the
author of the first auditorium, architect Joan Brems (1907– 1995), distanced
himself from the present auditorium.
