Castle Of Slavkov - Austerlitz
Interiors
At present, almost the entire first floor of Slavkov castle is accessible to the public. It is comprised of parts of the once large Kaunitz gallery, the beginnings of which go back to the first half of the 17th century. The biggest expansion of the family painting gallery happened in the second half of the 18th century under Václav Antonín of Kaunitz. The gallery contained not only copies but also the originals of the works of famous European masters. However, as a result of losses, sales and fires, by the end of the 19th century, the collection was reduced to a mere remnant, parts of which, especially the portraits of the members of the Kaunitz family, are used in the castle expositions.
The ceilings of the western wing interiors are decorated with stuccos by Santino Bussi and frescoes by Andreo Lanzani. Particularly remarkable is the so-called Ancestors' Hall decorated with a monumental ceiling fresco portraying the gods on Olympus. The Ancestors' Hall is interconnected with the oval, so-called Historical Hall, which was completed only in the 1760s with an illusionary decoration by Josef Pichler and where the armistice between Austria and France was signed after the battle at Slavkov. What is interesting in this hall is its acoustics. Its construction was designed so that during top political discussions one could not hear what was being discussed by others even if they were standing close to him.
During the tour, the public also has access to the oratory of the castle’s St Cross Chapel. The interior of the chapel is dominated by the altar with monumental statues of angels, the work of F. X. Messerschmidt from 1774. The chapel premises are used for wedding ceremonies and concerts.
