Holíč Castle, originally a gothic water castle, rebuilt into a baroque-classicist mansion. It is extended into the inundation of the Morava River, located on the western outskirts of Holíč, in the Skalica district
The natural protection of the original stone tower with rectangular fortifications was formed by marshy terrain. A two-tower residential palace was added to this area in the 14th century, and in the 15th century another wing was added. After the Renaissance reconstruction, a regular four-wing layout of the building with an arcade courtyard arose. From this period, the inner fortification belt with casemates on the corners has been preserved. In the 17th century was built star fortifications with corner bastions, which connected with the original fortifications underground passage.At present, the castle, surrounded by fortifications, is a monumental three-wing building with a courtyard. Of the representative premises of the summer imperial seat, thanks to the post-nationalization of the Habsburg property after 1918 during I. Czechoslovakia, not much remained. They set up a school and farm buildings in the chateau and the adjacent park was used for agricultural purposes. Worth mentioning is the well-preserved Chinese Hall, the walls of which are covered with leather painted wallpaper with motifs of the Chinese landscape. The chapel has a Baroque look. Ceremonial non-vaulted staircase is interesting for its technical solution of self-supporting structure on slender high columns. Another interesting feature is the moat filled with water that surrounds the whole castle.
The castle has been mentioned in written sources since 1256 under the name Wywar, ie the New Castle. Probably at the beginning of the 13th century King Andrew II. for a time he endowed the lands of the nobleman Kemyn. When the surrounding area was occupied by Matúš Čák Trenčiansky, the castle became the base of his military raids in Moravia. At that time, the castle was surrounded by moats. Nevertheless, after Matúš's death, the castle was occupied by the Czech garrison in 1332. When the castle became Hungarian property again, it remained under the administration of the royal castellans until the end of the 14th century. At this time, the castle was significantly rebuilt.
At the end of the 14th century, the castle was acquired from Sigismund of Luxembourg by Stibor of Stiborice and then until 1489 it was the property of the Šlik family. From 1489, the castle was in the hands of the Czoborovs, who rebuilt the castle into a four-winged Renaissance castle. In 1627, Holíč was conquered by Gabriel Bethlen's troops and the Turks also fought for it. In 1736, Jozef Czobor sold the estates in Holíč and Šaštín to František Lotrinský, making the building the property of the Habsburgs, who built a summer imperial residence here in 1749-1754. The Renaissance chateau was then rebuilt into a three-winged late Baroque complex.
In 1918, the barber's castle passed into the hands of the Czechoslovak state. A school was set up in the main building, the adjacent buildings and the park were used for agricultural purposes. In 1970, the manor house was declared a cultural monument. From 1974, its restoration took place for a new social use, later there were more plans to restore the castle, but none reached the end. Today, the adjacent building of the tobacco factory has been reconstructed, but the chateau building itself is not in an ideal condition. The situation is partly saved by the interior, especially the Chinese Hall, one of the most representative rooms of the castle.
The legend of the white virgin
Once upon a time, a rich nobleman was the owner of the Holíč chateau. He liked the castle very much, rebuilt it, furnished so beautifully that he could live there happily with his wife and a daughter. But he did not enjoy all the gems for a long time, a war broke out, so he went to foreign lands and never returned. The widowed owner spent most of the day in the castle chapel praying. The servants had to walk quietly in the corridors, the shutters remained closed, the lock was silent. Only the beautiful daughter of the poor lord of the castle did not grieve. Every day she went to feasts in the the surrounding estates of the town. Her mother often told her not to waste her youth in vain and superficial worldly pastimes, but also to think about her soul. But the spoiled and lush girl ignored her mother's grief and pleas. Once - in Turice - the castle lady expected her daughter to return from the ball. The sun was already high in the sky, the servants were all gathered in the dark castle chapel, the bell was calling for piety for the third time, and the old priest was just waiting for his daughter's arrival to begin a mass. He waited in vain. A panting servant came to the castle lady, who was kneeling by the altar, and told her that the virgin was now having the best fun and would not come to piety. The lady of the castle, in despair over her daughter's ungodliness, rose sharply and cursed her daughter with the words:
May the wicked fall into the depths of the earth, and even after death let her not find the peace with which she so despised alive! As soon as she answered this curse, she fell into a swoon, which she no longer awoke from. The cruel mother's curse was fulfilled. Since then, on a rainy and stormy night, a white ghost of a cursed virgin appears in the castle. It starts from an underground cellar and ascends a wide staircase to the first and second floors. In one hand she carries a burning candle, in the other a silver bowl. She mourns and moans in the castle rooms and corridors, and tears fall into her silver bowl. When the bowl is said to be filled with tears of remorse and repentance, the unfortunate will attain peace and receive forgiveness. But it will never happen. Always in the morning, a large black dog emerges from the underground corridors, knocks out an almost tear-filled bowl out of her hand and drinks them.
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