Å pilberk Castle

The Špilberk ( German: Spielberg ) is located in southern Moravia Brno in the Czech Republic. She has a checkered history as a medieval castle, fortress, barracks and prison. Today are in their exhibitions and a restaurant. Špilberk a cultural place and destination Brno population has become. Due to its location on a hill it offers a good view over the city.

Location

The former fortress of Spielberg is on a hill above the old town of Brno.

History

Fortress

In the second half of the 13th century the castle Spielberg was created. She made over the centuries through a number of transformations. Initially, it was the Gothic castle of the Bohemian kings and the seat of the Moravian Margrave. Middle of the 17th century it is an enormous Baroque fort of age. Mid-18th century it formed with the then equally fortified city of Brno, the most important bulwark in Moravia.

The 1742 finished casemates were an important step in the expansion to the fortress. They were to serve as a shelter for a 1200- man strong military corps. Ultimately here were only depots for military material. In 1783 was decided by Emperor Joseph II, in the course of the reform of the Austrian prison system, there set up a prison for the most dangerous and the worst criminals. In 1785 the southern part of the casemates was converted into a prison, the so-called Leopoldinische tract. The common use as a fortress and civilian prison brought some difficulties.

After the destruction of important parts of the fortress by the departing Napoleon's army in 1809, the fortress lost its military significance. It was abandoned in 1820. The entire fortress Spielberg became a civilian prison, which picked up Franz Joseph I in 1855 again. Another hundred years has been the fortress again barracks and military prison.

Fountain

The fountain of the castle has medieval origins. In the years 1716-1717 its original depth of 39 m was increased to 112 m, so that the base is below the water level of the river Svratka in Old Brno. The upper part of the fountain is built of stone and brick, while the lower part consists only of rocks. The average diameter is 3.5 m. The water level is 90 m, so that the volume represents more than 1,000 m³. At the bottom of the well, there are two horizontal wells with 17 m and 26 m length.

Through the French troops was filled with the destruction of the castle and the fountain in the following years he was allayed again. Above the fountain was a fountain house with a wooden wheel was driven by convicts to pull out the water. This house was only in the years 1939 - 1941 worn by the German Wehrmacht. The last cleaning work in the years 1990 and 1991 were associated with research, while 308 m³ of material were transported from the well. Besides, interesting finds were uncovered, which are exhibited in the museum of the castle. Among these there is also a skeleton of a soldier of the late 19th century. The identity is unknown.

Near the fountain is still a baroque cistern in which the rainwater from the surrounding roofs was collected.

Since 1990 located on the back wall of the courtyard a carillon, consisting of 15 bells with a weight of between 16 kg and 220 kg.

Casemates

The casemates are created below the castle building as a two-story military shelter ( 1,200 men) with attached prison system. 1746-1749 here Franz Freiherr von der Trenck was imprisoned, his remains are in the crypt of the Capuchin monastery in Brno's historical center. 1783 Emperor Joseph II, the upper storey of the northern casemates convert into a prison. Here the worst and most dangerous criminals came. In 1784, an imperial decree on the lower floor, the deepest and worst casemates, the quartered for life convicts. These came from 29 timbered boards single cells where the prisoners were chained. Spielberg was the most feared prison in the country. It was considered escape-proof. Even state widespread story of the one, ever successful at Castle Spielberg prison escape of the then very famous Czech robber Babinský is just one of his many personal legends spread by former Spielberg prisoner number 1042 after his release. 1785 was also the upper floor of the southern casemates to prison. As of 1824, the Italian poet Silvio Pellico, was imprisoned as a political prisoner, most recently in Spielberg several years. After his release in the fall of 1830, he wrote his memoirs " Le mie Prisoners ", which made known the prison throughout Europe.

1855 Emperor Franz Joseph I walked past the civil prison in a military prison in order. With the opening of the new penitentiary in Karthaus 1857, the first felons were transferred there. 1880 the casemates were made available to the public.

During the Second World War, the German Wehrmacht set in Spielberg. This led to the casemates by significant structural changes in order to make them usable as shelter. The Gestapo taught here - again notorious - prison one. Today you can visit the casemates and exhibitions in the castle.

Today

During the years 1987 to 1992 extensive renovations took place. It should be given the status of the late 18th century, ie the period of the works of a fortress to the infamous prison of Joseph's time.

In addition to a tour of the dungeon and the casemates are still about five exhibitions in the premises of the castle. In addition to temporary exhibitions, there are permanent installations to Brno and the history of Spielberg with old documents. A restaurant and an observation tower in the inner part of the castle grounds provide an overview. In the courtyard of the castle in the summer regular concerts.