Kynžvart Castle

Renaissance chateau ( German: Schloss Königswart ) located in the area of the baths Okres Cheb (Eger ), a few miles below the village of Bad Königswart.

At the end of the 16th century, the Frankish- Bohemian family of Zedtwitz of a Renaissance Fort was built. After the Metternich had acquired the dominion 1623-1631 ( year depending on the source ), Count Philipp Emmerich the dilapidated Renaissance Fort 1681-1691 rebuilt in a Baroque palace. Its present appearance in the style of Viennese Classicism and Empire style was the Königswart castle under WL Metternich, the Austrian chancellor, who had been given it for his birthday from his father. He had it rebuilt 1821-1836 by an Italian architect Pietro Nobile de. The château is a 100 -hectare English garden ( established 1835) in which an obelisk of Emperor Franz I. stands. Opposite the castle was the prince build farm buildings for Grange and forestry, the renovated house a hotel and restaurant. The castle was confiscated in 1945 the Princely House.

The castle itself is a valuable library, which contains medieval manuscripts and rare books, science books and encyclopedias for a number of scientific fields. Here, the estate of the French poet Alexandre Dumas is kept. 1828 a museum was set up in which natural science collections, coins, historical and technical curiosities, manuscripts, ancient Egyptian monuments, marble sculptures - among other things can be seen by Antonio Canova and objects of Oriental art.

As curator Karl Huss had († 1838), the last executioner of Eger. In the chapel is a marble altar, the Pope Gregory XVI. Prince Metternich gave. 1862 was Prince Metternich by a diplomat paid a decorative plant and put them out in the park. Since then, this " ornamental ", reintroduced the "Caucasian Giant Hogweed " and has long crossed national borders.

Since 2000 the castle open to the public after extensive renovations. During the tour, visitors are guided through 25 rooms. In 2008, the Euro Europe Renaissance chateau on the list of European cultural heritage.