Historical Monuments

The Namest chateau represents the outstanding monumnet and striking dominant feature of the town. Of the original Gothic castle built probably in the secont half of the 13th century, only a cylindrical defence tower of stone remains preserved. The Gothic style of the building, still observable in places on the stonework, was replaced with Baroque, apparent in the chateau chapel, salla terrena and interior decorations. The legasy of the Renaissance can be seen above all in the courtyard.

The present form of the chateau was influenced mainly by Jan Starsi of Zerotin, who had the original castle from 1578 adapted in the style of Italian Renaissance buildings, probably according to a plan by architect Gialdi. The reconstruction of the chateau began with the chapel - its pointed windows with tracery in the Gothic-Renaissance style testify to this. In the second half of the 18th century, in the Haugwitz period, the remaining bastions and walls were destroyed, the moat was filled in and the original drawbridge was replaced with a stone bridge of three spans.

The entrance to the chateau is decorated by a portal with the emblem of the Zerotins and a Latin date of the reconstruction placed above it. Visitort are attracted by the second courtyard with porticos and a fountain with statue of Neptune. The Renaissance portico, earlier open on all floors, is formed by three lines of columns with Tuscan, Ionic and Corinthian heads, emblems with garlands, rosettes, musical instruments, dragons, nymphs and other motives. The St.Wenceslas chapel with Baroque altarpieces, decorated with paintings and statues stemming from the abolished Capuchin monastery, is also remarkable. The same is true of the library with the barrel vaulting and frescos featuring motives from the Cupid and Psyche tale and an allegory of human qualities. This decoration has been ascribed to Italian painter Carpoforo Tencalla.

Until 1945 the chateau belonged to the Haugwitzs. Then it shortly served as a summer seat of President Edvard Benes. Now it hosts a permanent exhibition of tapestries dating from the period between the late 16th century and the middle of the 19th century.

Concerts of classical and popular music, which follow up the rich music tradition of the beginning of the 19th century, are still being staged in the chateau´s library and courtyard.

The former Capuchin monastery built in 1761-1763 is located near the chateau. Unfortunately, its original Baroque character was destroyed to a great extent through its being converted into a factory.

The bridge accross the Oslava river ranks among the town´s monuments which should be toured by every visitor. After the bridge of Pisek, south Bohemia, and Prague´s Charles Bridge, it is the third osdest stone bridge preserved in the Czech Lands. It was built in 1737 by Vaclav Adrian of Enckenvoirt, and in 1744, under the Kufstejns, it was decorated with twenty statues of Saints and Archangels. Josef Winterhalter senior is author of eight of them.

The same author contributed to the sculptural decoration (the statues of St.Rochus and St.Theresa) of the St.Anna Chapel in the so called Spitalek (small hospital), which was built by the Kufstejns in 1743-1745. There lived twelve poor people, retainers from Namest and its surroundings, whose duty was to take part in all processions, attend funerals, pray for landlords etc.

The chapel´s decorations include paintings by Pavel Troger (St.Anna on the main altarpiece, St.Francis Xavier and an unknown Saint pleading for Kufstejns on side altars).

One of the interesting monuments in the Namest square is the statue of the Holy Trinity by Antonin Riga, who made it in 1715. However, the square´s dominant feature is the St.James church, originally Gothic but reconstructed after a fire in 1639. Its main altar with paintings by Dutch author Stoll date from 1640 and feature Christ at baptism. Together with the picture of St.Charles Boromeus and the Virgin Mary on side altars by the same painter, they are the church´s most precious pieces of decoration. A picture of St.Anghony by Pavel Troger decorates a wall in the presbytery. Five statues of Saints from 1910 are placed on the church´s front. The Baroque rectory was built under the Kufstejns. Its front was decorated with statues of St.Joseph and St.Joachim by Winterhalter.

Two noteworthy Renaissance buildings can be seen in the square: the Old Town Hall and the Oslavan department store.

Near the cemetery the Haugwitz built their family crypt in 1822-1825 in the style of Empire, according to the plans by Vienna architect Josef Kornhausel. The marble figure sculpures in the interior are the work of Josef Klieber.