Mikulov a charming town with the poetry of friendly South Moravian region, grand architecture, spirit of impressive history and a high-spirited noble lady.

Whichever part of the town we want to see, we’ll always see it within its historical context, in whichever way we want to grasp the town, we’ll always meet those who gave it its beauty.

Two families of great importance built up the Mikulov manor – the Lichtensteins from 1249 to 1560 and the Dietrichsteins from 1575 to 1945. This region, however, has been, since the formation of the Great Moravian Empire in the 9th century, a significant town on the Moravian-Austrian border. After the victory of King Vratislav over the Babenberks in 1082 when the Mikulov region was joined with Moravia, a new border between Austria and Moravia was formed. In doing so the Bohemian Kingdom acquired an important strategic point and a stop on the amber merchant route running from the Baltic to the Adriatic sea. The guardians were positioned at the castle fort on top of a hill which is now called the Chateau Hill. Before the majestic chateau was built, a castle stood there on the limestone rocks whose towers still rise from the base of the chateau and remind us of its past.

The castle was built here by the Czech king Přemysl Otakar I (1197-1230). It became a part of fortification line that stretched from Břeclav to Bítov which Břetislav I (1034-1055) started to build alongside the volatile Moravian border. The oldest part of the chateau was a palace of an irregular quadrilateral ground plan with the dimensions of 11 x 16.5 metres. The Hall of Ancestors is found here today. The Lichtensteins were in charge of the next stage of its development. The mediaeval history of the castle is closely connected with this clan, originally from Styria. Because of an increasing need to improve the fortification of the castle and to provide a home for the growing family, the castle was gradually reinforced and enlarged. The most preserved gothic element of the castle is the chapel, dating back to 1380, consecrated to Virgin Mary and St. John Evangelist which was built into the oval tower seen next to the entrance of the southern square. The threat of Turkey’s invasions and the development of fire arms necessitated more alterations to the castle. The artillery tower built on the opposite Kozí Hill also dates back to that era.

Only for a short time did the Kereczényovi (1560-1575) walk across the castle courtyard to be shortly taken over by the Dietrichsteins, one of the mighty clans of the Moravian nobility.

During the reign of Cardinal František Dietrichstein (1570-1636) a challenging reconstruction of the then plain castle fort into a representative renaissance ducal residence began. This residence was worthy of the cardinal’s status and position as he moved the whole of his office from Olomouc to Mikulov. The northern bastion was changed into the Hall of Ancestors, the main hall of the chateau, by 1616. The living quarters were also enlarged with the northern and southern wings. One of the first theatres in Czech lands was built at the chateau in 1640. The architect who was in charge of the castle reconstruction was probably an Italian builder Giovanni Giacomo Tencalla. The drive was built at the eastern part of the hill. Cardinal Dietrichstein paid close attention to the surroundings of the chateau – terrace gardens were incorporated at its perimeter.
Cardinal’s follower Maxmillan (1596-1655) took over the manor at the culmination of the thirty-year-war. He tried to ease the impact of the conflict on the town and manor by supporting the trade and viticulture. A giant wine barrel, made in 1643 in the cellar beneath the theatre dates back to this era and is truly a unique example of historical craftsmanship.

Reconstructions and alterations of the chateau continued extensively during the second half of the 17th century during the reign of Duke Ferdinand (1655-1698) who was a major contributor to the Habsburg politics. The reconstruction in a baroque style created a noble residence with area of representation and entertainment reflecting the status of the duke. At that time the ballroom was built, which was later changed into a riding-school.

In 1719 a catastrophic fire raged in Mikulov and damaged the chateau as well. Duke Walter Xaver Dietrichstein commissioned a Viennese architect Christian Alexander Oedtl with its reconstruction. It was at that time when sala terrena, a favourite baroque place for relaxation in summer, was built.

The names of two artists who are connected with the majestic decor of the chateau are; Ignác Lengelacher, an Austrian sculptor whose monumental portal we admire at the southern square and Heinrich Gottfried Förster, a blacksmith from Brno whose impressive gate we walk through into the chateau park.

The 18th century brought into the chateau interiors the sort of luxury that reflected the status of its owners. The Throne Room of the chateau was used by Maria Theresa to receive Moravian nobility and it was where Napoleon Bonaparte and Emperor William negotiated peace. Some minor alterations took place during the first half of the 19th century. It was during the reign of Franz Joseph Dietrichstein (1767-1854) when the last alterations changed the look of the chateau area.

The Dietrichstein Gallery
After the fire during the WWII the history returned back to the chateau thanks to an extensive museum installation called “The Dietrichstein Gallery”. Stories of individual family members depict the history of the chateau and the Mikulov manor. Nine halls were filled with partially preserved and partially restored art collections – the portraits of family members from the beginning of the 17th century to the half of the 18th century. This collection was later extended with the borrowed paintings from the private collection of Mercedes Dietrichstein from the 19th and 20th century. Three-dimensional exhibits are supplemented with information, copies of the graphics and maps. The drawn reconstructions of the Dietrichstein family tree in each room help establish particular time in history. The robe of Markéta Františka Lobkowicz, born Dietrichstein, is one of the exhibits. She was wearing this unique robe when she was buried in the crypt of the St.Wenceslas Church in Mikulov. This lady was supposedly the maid of honour to Empress Anne, the wife of Duke Matyáš. Her robe is an exceptional example of the female noble dress of the early 17th century which is very rarely preserved in Europe. The glorious history of the clan is also remembered in the chateau library, built in 1727 in the area of the formal theatre. It is equipped with baroque cabinets and it accounts for eleven thousand valuable books.

From the gothic to empiric style
We go back in time at the exposition called “From the gothic to empiric style”.This time though we examine the objects of daily use of excellent quality. The furniture, glassware, porcelain, clocks, ceramics, silverware represent the development of art craftsmanship and illustrate improvement of the lifestyle of nobility.

A unique exhibit is hidden in the chateau cellar
Mikulov has been always connected with vineyards, wine and viticulture. An exposition called “Traditional viticulture in Moravia” dedicated to vine growing and wine making invites us to find out more. There is a unique object hidden in the chateau cellar – a giant renaissance wine barrel. It is impressive not only for its volume of 1014 hectolitres, it is also a beautiful work of art which was even admired at the time of its creation.

Romans and Germans lived below the Pálava Hills
We can set on a very long journey back in time thanks to the exposition called “Romans and Germans below the Pálava Hills” which won a prestigious award in the National Museum Competition, the Gloria Musaealis Award. The exposition reminds us of the conquerors and inhabitants of the region at the beginning of the era. We meet the culture of Romans and the German tribe of Svebs, its highlight being the presentation of unique excavations of the grave of a German noble man from the 2nd century that was uncovered at the end of the 1980′s near Mušov.

The charm of modern contemporary art
An interesting place of the museum is the exposition called the “Workshop” which is made up by pictures and plastics created during the annual summer art symposia of Mikulov taking place at the chateau since 1994. The exposition presents one of the best collections of contemporary art in the Czech Republic. The chateau of Mikulov is alive with the history. It is alive with the present which includes many cultural events, seasonal exhibitions, the chateau park in bloom, pleasant moments spent with a glass of Mikulov wine and the views of this beautiful town with its charming surroundings.