Geography

LEDNICE-VALTICE GROUNDS

Lednice castle, situated in the middle of the romantic landscape of South Moravian floodplain forests and ponds, is one of the best-known castles in Bohemia and Moravia.

The area of Lednice is located  in the alluvial plain of the river Dyje with a system of side branches and canals. Several ponds were built there in the Middle Ages. They became an important nesting place and migration stop of waterfowl  (national park Lednice ponds). The floodplain forests, meadows and waters are important deposits of many protected species of plants and animals.

In 1222, a fortress was built at Lednice that should have protected a crossing near the river Dyje on the path connecting the North with the South. In 1322 it became the feudal tenure of Liechtenstein stock. It was the centre of Lednice demesne that together with Valtice and Breclav belonged to Liechtenstein possessions in South Moravia. 

In the second half of 15 century South Moravia was partly uninhabited. At that time the system of ponds had been built around Lednice. In the area of Zamecky, Prostredni, Mlynsky and Hlohovecky ponds, a natural landscape complex had been created that was structurally outlined in the following centuries. It is unique in this country and ranks among the most important art landscape areas in Europe. That is why this territory was put in UNESCO list in 1996.

The old fortress was rebuilt in a Renaissance castle before 1585. It should have represented the Liechtenstein family, the residence of which it was since the early 17 century. Karel of Liechtenstein made a political carreer. As a devoted follower of the emperor he was awarded the peerage and became prince. After the battle at Bila hora (1620) where the Czech estates had been beaten he was entrusted with administration of Bohemia and should have carried out the re-catholicization there. As the governor he became the actual master of the country and enlarged the Liechtenstein demesne substantially.

The builder of Lednice and its area, however, was his son Karel Eusebius (+1684) that devoted his life to extensive adaptations and landscaping at Lednice – Valtice demesne. He called important artists and craftsmen there. The baroque castle with riding school and large garden developed at that time.

In the early 18 century the avenue in the middle of Lednice – Hlohovec ponds had been planted that connected both residences – Lednice and Valtice. At the turn of 19 century the castle park was re-built and extended. The basic star form of the park was completed by several romantic buildings in the vista axes: a minaret, a few castellets, a castle ruin, the Apollon temple. The classicist park was transformed into a romantic one by building a castle pond with 15 isles in it. 

In the 19 century a greenhouse was built behind the castle. The flower hall, connecting both buildings, served ocassionally as castle theatre where important actors from nearby Wienna were playing. In 1846 - 1858 the last reconstruction was carried out, in the fashionable style of English neo-Gothic. The surroundings of the castle were adapted to its new look  Since 1945 the castle and its area have been the property of the Czech state. The vast Lednice park that changes to the free groomed landscape is called ´garden of Europe´. The Lednice ponds that are an ideal nesting place of waterfowl and were included in the system of international ornithological sanctuaries increase the attractiveness of the area. Linking the architecture and landscape together brought the beauty of Lednice out and it has been one of the most attractive places in the Czech Republic.