The chateau of Jemniště The Baroque pearl of Central Bohemia
Bedroom exposition
The history of the chateau
In 1717 the Jemniště estate was bought by Count Franz Adam of Trauttmansdorff (•1762), originally from the old Styrian family. The author of the representative residence project was the famous Czech architect Franz Maximilian Kaňka. The construction proceeded very quickly. In October 1725 the construction was finished so the ceremonial consecration of the chateau chapel took place. In 1754 the chateau completely burned down, just St. Joseph´s Chapel remained intact. On the decoration of the chapel two masters participated: W. L. Rainer and M. B. Braun. Franz Adam of Trauttmansdorff had the chateau rebuilt and newly furnished. That time the gable wall was changed and there was placed Trauttmansdorff coat of arms. Statues by Lazar Widman complemented the appearance of the chateau. Besides these modifications the chateau was not damaged by any essential reconstructions. We have the ideal possibility to see a typical aristocratic seat at the peak of Baroque period. At the turn of the 18th and 19th century the Baroque garden was transformed to a romantic English park. In 1868 the manor was bought by Count Zdeněk Sternberg, the owner of the nearby manor Český Šternberk (great-grandfather of the current owner). From his uncle Kašpar Maria Sternberg, the founder of the National Museum, he inherited the manor Radnice where the rich coal mines were found.
Dining room exposition
The history of the chateau
The profit from them allowed Zdeněk to significantly multiply the family’s property. After the death of Count Zdeněk his second son Philip (1852-1924) inherited Jemniště. Philip Sternberg gave Jemniště promotion to his seat. With Karolina the Count of Thurn and Valsassina (1863-1944) he had two sons and two daughters. The older son Zdeněk (1885-1899) died prematurely due to joint rheumatism therefore the second son Jiří Douglas (1888-1965), grandfather of the current owner) inherited the greater part of the property (Český Šternberk and Radnice), Jemniště was equally divided between daughters Maria Gabriele (1890-1934) and Theresa (1902-1985). After Gabriele‘s death, Theresa (Sita) became the only owner of the estate and in 1927 she got married to Count Franz Mensdorff-Pouilly (1897-1991). Sita with Franz owned Jemniště until 1943. Since after the occupation they refused to join German nationality they (similar to Theresa‘s brother Jiří Douglas) were exposed to all kinds of persecution. Teresa Mensdorff lived until her death (1985) in nearby Postupice. Her husband Franz died in 1991. Because they were childless their nephew John Bosco Sternberg (•1936, father of the current owner)
Staircase
The history of the chateau
with his wife Marie Leopoldine Sternberg, born Princess Lobkowicz, inherited Jemniště. The estate was returned to the hands of Sternbergs in 1995 and the current owner is Jiří Sternberg (•1968), who with his wife Petra (•1975), opened the chateau to the public. They have two children, a son Vojtěch Václav (•1996) and a daughter Isabella (•1999). Since 1995 they managed to repair most of roofs and facades, they arranged expositions from the Sternbergs´ exhibits, opened Cafe Custoza and chateau restaurant, equipped romantic apartments, created wedding halls. In the chateau park they founded alpinium, flower garden, rosarium and have planted hundreds of plants and trees in recent years.
Cafe Custoza
Cafe Custoza
The Cafe Custoza is decorated with portraits of the Austrian army generals of Marshal Radetzky, who had fought a major battle near the Italian town of Custoza in 1848. One of the generals was also Leopold Sternberg. After the tour of beautiful exhibitions or walk in a carefully maintained park visitors can refresh themselves with coffee and home-made desserts decorated with roses from rosarium.
Fashion line for ladies nature lovers
Restaurant
Restaurant
The Chateau restaurant, always opened as well as the chateau, offers delicious home-made dishes of Šternberk cuisine. But who plans dinner “after closure of the chateau“ can order “Meals to Order“ on the webpage www.jemniste.cz. Visitors of the restaurant will be pleased not only by elegant design of meals but also by smell of Jemniště herbs grown in the chateau garden center and of course manor venison.
Apartment František
Accommodation in the chateau apartments
Petra and Jiří Sternberg created very romantic apartments partly furnished with historical furniture and decorated with fabrics from many countries. Accommodation in the chateau can be ordered at www.jemniste.cz.
Apartment František
Apartment František is situated on the left of the entrance gate to courtyard of honour. It consists of a cozy lounge, bedroom, entrance hall and bathroom with hand-painted basin and toilet. It is furnished with historical furniture and decorated with lots of accessories and fabrics from the Orient. Most of all guests enjoy view of the night illuminated courtyard, fireplace and breakfast served in a wicker basket to the apartment.
Apartment Terezie
Accommodation in the chateau apartments Apartment Terezie
Apartment Terezie is a house located on the right of the entrance gate to courtyard of honour. It consists of a cozy lounge, bedroom, entrance hall and romantic bathroom with toilet. It is equipped with antique furniture and decorated with lithographs of women‘s robes from 19th century. But most of all guests enjoy view of the night illuminated courtyard, fireplace and breakfast served in a wicker basket to the apartment. Apartment guests can also order wellness program and private tour of historical expositions with a glass of champagne is included in price.
Apartment Rainer
Accommodation in the chateau apartments Apartment Rainer
Apartment Rainer is situated in the left side wing of the chateau. It consists of a very romantic bedroom, breakfast lounge and bathroom with toilet. Thanks to its location it offers both the view of the courtyard of honour and into the park. It is furnished not only by the historical furniture but guests can enjoy a canopy bed, corner bath, fireplace and breakfast served in a wicker basket to the apartment. Apartment guests will be pleasantly surprised by the delicious cuisine and friendly, professional treatment. The large bunch of apartment keys contains the key of the gate to the picturesque and accurately maintained private park, where it is allowed to re-enter free of charge, enjoy the beauty of well-tended gardens and listen to bubbling water of fountains.
Picnic
Picnic in the chateau park For picnic lovers there are prepared delicacies according to their tastes. In Jemniště park on blankets and pillows, in the impressive corners of the chateau garden, under the trees and from wicker baskets refreshments come in handy. A novelty is organizing a picnic on the boat in the chateau pond. We also offer the possibility to purchase gift certificates. You can then choose your own picnic and a date in www.jemniste.cz in the programme “Fill your basket”.
Wedding halls
Wedding halls
Civil wedding ceremonies take place in two wedding halls decorated with Oriental and European fabrics. The halls are situated on the ground floor of the main building. After the ceremony it is possible to pay an extra charge for access with a photographer to the exposition of the ballroom which invites to acquire romantic photos. Guests usually wait behind the chateau in rosarium, rose garden, or in Cafe Custoza.
St. Joseph´s Chapel
Civil and religious ceremonies in St. Joseph´s chapel Religious wedding ceremonies take place in the family‘s baroque St. Joseph´s chapel which is adorned by the most beautiful baroque works of the chateau. The fresco in the presbytery “Ascension of Christ“ is the work by W. L. Rainer and on the decoration of the main altar M. B. Braun also participated. From the side altars representatives of Christian mystics St. Teresa of Avila and St. Francis of Assisi look down. The owners of the chateau had the original baroque organ repaired, which is used for civil and religious ceremonies, concerts and during masses.
The Chateau park
The Chateau park
The chateau garden was established by Count Franz Adam of Trauttmansdorff in 1725. Big changes in the organization of the park and planting were carried out at the end of 19th century by Count Zdeněk Sternberg (greatgrandfather of the current owner). The original regular French garden was transformed and expanded of the landscaped park. The total area of the park that time reached current 13 hectares and contained a set of three ponds. Until 1995 Jemniště was the state property and in the same year was returned back to the ownership of the Sternberg family. Current owners have been using professional skills of Ing. Šárka Michálková for several years. During the past ten years courtyard of honour (box tree ornament was established in 2009 according to the draft of Jitka Pávová), heath, pond in the park, rock garden, flower garden, rosarium and alpinium were created. Gradually, the old, sick lime avenue is changed and there are planted new solitary trees. In the season the area of about 5 hectares is maintained because of picnics.
The Chateau park
To the park anyone can plant a tree or a shrub as rememrance. By this time many wedding and birthday guests have done so. Each year a list of trees to purchase is prepared. In autumn trees and shrubs are planted and the following season sold to candidates who want to devote an extraordinary gift: the possibility of planting a tree / shrub in the park. For these occasions the chateau offers an assistance for planting and interpretation of basic information - as a thank you.
Rosarium
Rosarium of Jemniště Kordes´ Söhne
German family company was founded in 1887 and deals with rose grading. In their assortment you find garden and wild roses. They offer beautiful roses to cut, just like pot roses into the interior. In rosarium in Jemniště it is possible to smell the maxicreeping and creeping, terraine covered, shrubby, botanical, tea and mini roses, which decorate desserts at Cafe Custoza.
Engagement
Engagement
Engagement has no legal force today - that‘s why Jemniště more appreciates those, who according to old customs humbly offer their heart and tremulously wait for a response. This romantic ritual, captured in hundreds of films, will be experienced in Jemniště which is prepared with all the gentility and excellent cuisine.
Wedding days
Wedding days
Exclusive wedding days in JemniĹĄtÄ› take place with full organization and overall service. Clients will be pleased by original, painted wedding announcement, silk on the tables, precise and beautiful seating arrangements, home-made cookies, professional photographer, excellent wedding gastronomy .... Everything what the wedding clients order in the chateau is approved by Petra Sternberg who established the wedding service in 1999. Romantic wedding service offer can be found at www.jemniste.cz.
Menagerie
Menagerie
In the chateau menagerie visitors will find cockatoos from Moluccas, beautiful white peacocks, as well as blue ones. Dutch goats make you laugh and also raccoons can not by missing. In the park there are information tags on which you can read interesting facts about birds and animals and during the walk through the gardens you can read other labels about rare species. We hope you and your children will enjoy JemniĹĄtÄ› nature trail.
Contacts
The owners of the chateau Jemniště Jiří Sternberg: sternberg@jemniste.cz Petra Sternbergová: svatbanazamku@jemniste.cz
Chateau assistents:
Kamila Žáková: kamila@jemniste.cz, gsm: 737 037 372 Veronika Zelenková: zamek@jemniste.cz, gsm: 731 903 995
Cafe Custoza & Restaurant:
Petra Sternbergová: sternbergova@jemniste.cz, gsm: 777 684 104
www.jemniste.cz