History

The beginnings of the activities relating to the present-day Museum of the Podblanicko Region fall, as is the case with many similar institutions in Bohemia, in the 1890s, more precisely into the time the Czech-Slavic Ethnographic Exhibition, which initiated an extensive collection of mainly ethnographic material in Czech rural areas, was held. The actual museum institution was founded in Beneš in 1896. From the beginning, the museum was mainly supported by the work of volunteer workers and enthusiasts and came up against a lack of space for its activities. However, the museum did open some of its collections to the public at the beginning of the 20th century.

The development of the museum in the following years was adversely marked by the two world wars. From 1954 onwards, the museum came under the administration of the Regional National Council in Benešov. The Collection of Ethnographic Work from the Podblanicko Region has been issued since 1957. A great turning point came in 1960 when the collections of the museum institutions in Benešov, Vlašim, Votice and Sedlec - Prčice were concentrated into one professional museum institution. The Ethnographic Museum of the Podblanicko Region was thus created, based in Jemniště Château.

In 1984 the Musical Tradition in the Podblanicko Region was opened to the public in Růžkovy Lhotice Château. In 1988 the museum moved, now under the name Museum of the Benešov District, to the château in Vlašim where it significantly contributed and still contributes to the renovation of the building and where it is still based today. In relation to the reform of state administration and regional government in 2003, the museum gained a new governing authority, the Region of Central Bohemia, as well as its current name, the Museum of the Podblanicko Region.

Vlašim Château, home of the Museum of the Podblanicko Region, Zámek 1, 258 01 Vlašim

The originally Gothic castle was built on a promontory above the River Blanice by members of the Janovic family at the beginning of the 14th century. It is first mentioned in written sources in 1318. It was purchased in 1363 by the Lords of Jenštejn. The second Archbishop of Prague came from this family and the first Czech Cardinal, Jan Očko of Vlašim as well as his nephew and successor to the Archbishop’s seat, Jan of Jenštejn. The Gothic castle, the remnants of which are preserved in the architecture of the north wing, was converted into a representative aristocratic residence when Vlašim was ruled by members of the Trčka family of Lípa in 1443 to 1546. They also built the Gothic Church of St Giles in Vlašim in 1523.

Development of the city and the Renaissance château are evident under the rule of Vilém Vostrovec of Královice, who purchased the manor in 1588. As a leading representative of the Bohemian Estates Uprising he was sentenced in 1621 to lifelong imprisonment and loss of property. According to legend he managed to hide a huge treasure in Vlašim Château before he was imprisoned. Other important noble families took turns in ruling Vlašim Château over the subsequent centuries, including the Lords of Talenberk and the Countess of Weissenwolf. The Vlašim manor was purchased in 1744 by the Princes of Auersperg, in whose ownership it remained until 1945. The Auersperg family converted the château in the Classicist style and it then gained its present-day appearance. After 1945 the château was nationalised and was used for various purposes. The Museum of the Podblanicko Region has been based in the north and west wings of the château since 1988.

The château park in which the château is located, was established on the site of the former game reserve and château gardens in the valley of the River Blanice in 1775 by Prince Karel Josef Auersperg. Under the influence of Romanticism, a naturally landscaped park was gradually created during the 18th and 19th century, supplemented by many romantic buildings and corners, from among which the Chinese Pavilion, the Old Castle and the Statue of Samson have been preserved. With its area of 75 ha, the park is still one of the largest in Bohemia.

Château premises

The first floor of the west wing houses a scholastic library, which is open for viewing. The north wing of the château holds the ceremonial hall of the Municipal Authorities and three adjoining rooms are used here for the presentation of exhibitions – the greatest attraction is the Rococo murals and the smallest, circular lounge, is decorated with white Renaissance stucco and with hunting motifs. Similar stucco decoration can be found in the museum’s cash office. The stairway to the second floor is decorated with Baroque statues of St. Tekla, better known as an allegory for Bohemia and St. Barbara. The second floor welcomes us with a view of Velký Blaník with the sleeping knights, a picturesque example of folk creativity, the work of Mr. Kupsa of Rataje from the 1930s. The north wing holds a hall used for lectures and concerts with a capacity for 80 people. There is a chapel in the tower with preserved ceiling paintings and Renaissance stucco.

Benešov branch – house 74 , Malé náměstí, 256 01 Benešov

The Art Nouveau house no. 74 was built in 1904 – 1905 according to a design by Marcel Dusil by the Regional Commercial Loan Bank in Benešov by Prague. An exhibition was opened to the public in 1992 on the second floor, dedicated to the history of the city of Benešov and its surrounding area and in 2002 an exhibition on the third floor, devoted to the history of the Benešov Garrison.

Růžkovy Lhotice branch – Zámek 1, Růžkovy Lhotice, 257 65 Čechtice

The little château, which is a dominant feature of the municipality has changed hands many times. In 1835 – 1844 it belonged to František Smetana, father of the musical composer Bedřich Smetana, who often came here and drew inspiration for his musical works. In 1982 the Museum of the Podblanicko Region gained the building for its work. The little château with the adjacent building of the former distillery and barn were renovated by the museum and the devastated garden was also renovated with the planting of new bushes and trees. An exhibition was created in the château, devoted to musical tradition in the region and facilities for museum workers in the ground floor rooms.