A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE SLATIŇANY CHATEAU
First written records of Slatiňany are dated to the end of the 13th century. In 1294, a simple medieval manor was towering on a rock promotory above the Chrudimka river and Francis of Slatiňany was the owner.
Since then, there was a succesive chain of over 30 different owners. Reasons behind these frequent changes were various and very interesting, from sudden and premature deaths, losses of fortune to whole estate confiscations - just to name a few. The initially timber manor burned to the ground several times.
In 1575, the estate was bought by Bohuslav Mazanec of Frymburk, a scribe of lesser Czech lands tables. This loyal crown officer was for his excellent services knighted by king Ferdinand in 1561 and with his new found status and wealth decided to improve his county residence. He called up Ulrico Aostalli de Sala, an italian architect and master builder, already working in Bohemia for the emperor Rudolph II. and other wealthy czech lords, to rebuild Slatiňany manor into a comfortable chateau a modern Renaissance style. Therefore a two winged, two storied structure was built, covered in typical sgrafito ornaments, visible on the eastern wing to present days.
In 1732, the estate was purchased by an upcoming officer, the Vice Royal Hunts Master of the Czech lands, count Joseph Francis of Schönfeld. He carried out house adaptations in Baroque style. He already owned several other estates in the region – namely Nasavrky, Žleby, Zaječice, Seč and Bojanov. His only daughter married Prince Johann Adam of Auersperg on 14th November 1746 and her dowry remained in the hands of this prominent family until World War II.
The Auerspergs carried out further adaptations of the chateau, most singificantly in the 19th century, when a whole new wing was added and a small staircase tower and the main square tower were built. It was the Auerspergs who gave the chateau in Slatiňany today‘s appearance. In 1942 the last member of the Žleby and Slatiňany branch of the family died and the estates were passed onto his nephew, count Josef Karel Trauttmansdorf. In 1945 the chateau became a property of the state.
