Jánský vrch
Encyclopedia
Jánský vrch is a castle located in the Jeseník District
, which lies in the Olomouc Region
of the Czech Republic
. The castle Jánský Vrch stands on a hill above the town of Javorník
(Jauernig in German) in the north-western edge of Czech Silesia
, a territory historically known as Sudetenland
.
During the 15th century, the castle was considerably damaged by the Hussite
s and therefore large-scale repairs were needed. The rebuilding of the castle took place under the rule of Bishop Jan IV Roth, at the end of the 15th century, and it was completed in 1509 by his successor – Prince-Bishop
of Breslau Johannes V – Johannes Thurzó (1506–1520). At that time, the castle was also renamed as "Johannesberg", to honor the patron of the Bishops of Breslau, John the Baptist.
The original fortified castle was later rebuilt in the Baroque
style under the rule of Philipp Gotthard von Schaffgotsch
(1716–1795), who made it his primary residence. During this time, Johannesberg castle and the town Javorník
also became the cultural center of Upper Silesia
. Among the most famous personalities living there, was August Carl Ditters von Dittersdorf
, renowned Viennese
composer and violinist.
Following the death of Prince-Bishop
Philipp Gotthard von Schaffgotsch
, the castle was once again rebuilt as a summer residence by Bishop Joseph Christian Reichsfürst von Hohenlohe-Waldenburg-Bartenstein. It remained an important centre of cultural life in the region until the beginning of the 20th century.
In 1959, the castle Jánský Vrch was loaned to the State and recovered by the Czechoslovakian
government in 1984, following a property agreement between the Polish and Czechoslovakian Catholic archdioceses. It is now under the administration of the National Monument Institute in Olomouc
and since 1 January 2002, it is on the list of national cultural monuments.
Jeseník District
Jeseník District is a district in the Olomouc Region of the Czech Republic. Its seat is the town Jeseník.The area called Jeseníky region is in the most northern bulge of Silesia and Moravia. It is closed by frontier with Poland that passes westward through Rychleby Hills and crosses the Nysa...
, which lies in the Olomouc Region
Olomouc Region
Olomouc Region is an administrative unit of the Czech Republic, located in the north-western and central part of its historical region of Moravia and in a small part of the historical region of Silesia . It is named for its capital Olomouc.-External links:* *...
of the Czech Republic
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
. The castle Jánský Vrch stands on a hill above the town of Javorník
Javorník (Jeseník District)
Javorník or Javorník u Jeseníku or Javorník ve Slezsku, , is a town in the Jeseník District of the Olomouc Region, Javorník Hook, Czech Republic. It has about 2,900 inhabitants.-Early history:...
(Jauernig in German) in the north-western edge of Czech Silesia
Czech Silesia
Czech Silesia is an unofficial name of one of the three Czech lands and a section of the Silesian historical region. It is located in the north-east of the Czech Republic, predominantly in the Moravian-Silesian Region, with a section in the northern Olomouc Region...
, a territory historically known as Sudetenland
Sudetenland
Sudetenland is the German name used in English in the first half of the 20th century for the northern, southwest and western regions of Czechoslovakia inhabited mostly by ethnic Germans, specifically the border areas of Bohemia, Moravia, and those parts of Silesia being within Czechoslovakia.The...
.
History
The castle is first mentioned in written sources in 1307, when it was still the property of the Princes of Svidník. In the 1348, they sold the castle to the Prince-Bishop Preczlaus of Pogarell (1341–1376), and since that time, the castle belonged to the Bishops of Breslau.During the 15th century, the castle was considerably damaged by the Hussite
Hussite
The Hussites were a Christian movement following the teachings of Czech reformer Jan Hus , who became one of the forerunners of the Protestant Reformation...
s and therefore large-scale repairs were needed. The rebuilding of the castle took place under the rule of Bishop Jan IV Roth, at the end of the 15th century, and it was completed in 1509 by his successor – Prince-Bishop
Prince-Bishop
A Prince-Bishop is a bishop who is a territorial Prince of the Church on account of one or more secular principalities, usually pre-existent titles of nobility held concurrently with their inherent clerical office...
of Breslau Johannes V – Johannes Thurzó (1506–1520). At that time, the castle was also renamed as "Johannesberg", to honor the patron of the Bishops of Breslau, John the Baptist.
The original fortified castle was later rebuilt in the Baroque
Baroque
The Baroque is a period and the style that used exaggerated motion and clear, easily interpreted detail to produce drama, tension, exuberance, and grandeur in sculpture, painting, literature, dance, and music...
style under the rule of Philipp Gotthard von Schaffgotsch
Philipp Gotthard von Schaffgotsch
Count Philipp Gotthard von Schaffgotsch was a German Prince-Bishop of Breslau and an important promoter of music.-Ecclesiastical career:...
(1716–1795), who made it his primary residence. During this time, Johannesberg castle and the town Javorník
Javorník (Jeseník District)
Javorník or Javorník u Jeseníku or Javorník ve Slezsku, , is a town in the Jeseník District of the Olomouc Region, Javorník Hook, Czech Republic. It has about 2,900 inhabitants.-Early history:...
also became the cultural center of Upper Silesia
Upper Silesia
Upper Silesia is the southeastern part of the historical and geographical region of Silesia. Since the 9th century, Upper Silesia has been part of Greater Moravia, the Duchy of Bohemia, the Piast Kingdom of Poland, again of the Lands of the Bohemian Crown and the Holy Roman Empire, as well as of...
. Among the most famous personalities living there, was August Carl Ditters von Dittersdorf
Carl Ditters von Dittersdorf
----August Carl Ditters von Dittersdorf was an Austrian composer, violinist and silvologist.-1739-1764:...
, renowned Viennese
Wien
Wien is the German language name for Vienna, the city and federal state in Austria.* Wien , in Vienna, Austria* Theater an der Wien, a theater in Vienna located at the former river WienWien may also refer to:...
composer and violinist.
Following the death of Prince-Bishop
Prince-Bishop
A Prince-Bishop is a bishop who is a territorial Prince of the Church on account of one or more secular principalities, usually pre-existent titles of nobility held concurrently with their inherent clerical office...
Philipp Gotthard von Schaffgotsch
Philipp Gotthard von Schaffgotsch
Count Philipp Gotthard von Schaffgotsch was a German Prince-Bishop of Breslau and an important promoter of music.-Ecclesiastical career:...
, the castle was once again rebuilt as a summer residence by Bishop Joseph Christian Reichsfürst von Hohenlohe-Waldenburg-Bartenstein. It remained an important centre of cultural life in the region until the beginning of the 20th century.
In 1959, the castle Jánský Vrch was loaned to the State and recovered by the Czechoslovakian
Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia or Czecho-Slovakia was a sovereign state in Central Europe which existed from October 1918, when it declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until 1992...
government in 1984, following a property agreement between the Polish and Czechoslovakian Catholic archdioceses. It is now under the administration of the National Monument Institute in Olomouc
Olomouc
Olomouc is a city in Moravia, in the east of the Czech Republic. The city is located on the Morava river and is the ecclesiastical metropolis and historical capital city of Moravia. Nowadays, it is an administrative centre of the Olomouc Region and sixth largest city in the Czech Republic...
and since 1 January 2002, it is on the list of national cultural monuments.