Castle Trip
We weren't quite satisfied about Archbishops Palace because it
was perhaps a bit too loud. That's why we are still continuing
to search apartment for us. We checked Sternbeks Castle located
40 km southwest from Prague. This castle is built in 14th century
and was owned by nobleman and priest called Sternbek. He tried
to advance Czech national culture. Furniture’s of the castle
are from different periods. Oldest are from 15th century but most
of them are from 19th century. Most of them represent renaissance
or rococo style. In the castle there is small chapel that was
used as town church and that's why they still don't have a church
in town. Noblemen of the castle had good relations to Vienna and
to king of France, from who few of furniture’s are gifts.
In the castle are several rooms for leisure and work. There is
a library that contains books mostly from 19th century. Pink room
was kept warm all year long because it was very small one. Heating
system wasn't normal. Servants heated the room outside so that
smoke wouldn't bother the nobles. If you felt tired you could
take a nap in baroque sleeping room but only if you are less than
150 centimetres long because of very small bed. In the hunting
room are over 2000 animal objects mostly from surrounding area.
Only five have been brought from Sri Lanka. In the castle there
is large collection of hunting weapons from 18th and 19th centuries.
Biggest one of them was not used to hunt elephants but ducks.
It weights about 15-20 kg depending the amount of powder and shots.
It took three men to shoot this riffle - two to hold the gun and
one to shoot. When blast in to a flock of ducks nobles got food
for several days and they didn’t have chance to miss them.
Duck season
Nowadays an 81 years old man privately owns the castle. Yes,
we liked the castle a lot and there were just enough rooms for
us but it was kind of chilly. Also 40 kilometres to school could
come as obstacle done every day. Thus we continue our quest to
find better apartment closer Charles University.
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