Velké Losiny
Encyclopedia
Velké Losiny is a village and municipality (obec
) in Šumperk District
in the Olomouc Region
of the Czech Republic
. It covers an area of 46.5 square kilometres (18 sq mi), and has a population of 2,832 and lies approximately 10 kilometres (6 mi) north-east of Šumperk
, 52 km (32 mi) north of Olomouc
, and 188 km (117 mi) east of Prague
. Its most popular tourist sites are the château, the spa and the handmade paper mill
, the oldest in Europe.
n dynasty of Žerotín for more than 300 years. The chateâu consists of three wings overlooking the courtyard with three floors of arcade galleries and is crowned by a narrow octagonal tower. Although Jan was infamous for his ruthlessness towards his subjects, bullying them into woring using methods that were exceptionally cruel even for those days, his descendant Přemek II was worse; in 1662 he had the three ringleaders of a peasant rebellion beheaded. At the turn of the 18th century the Renaissance
buildings were extended with a further three, also arcaded, Barroque-style wings, to which were added a Baroque-style garden featuring romantic little structures and statues.
At the end of the 18th century the Žerotíns fell into debt and began selling their estates. In 1802 they had to sell the family seat in Velké Losiny to the Liechtensteins, in whose possession it remained until 1945. According to unfounded reports the Austria
n poet Franz Grillparzer
stayed in the chateâu in the 19th century; he was supposed to have based his tragedy The Matriarch on the sad romantic story of the ghostly Žerotín protectoress. The chateâu interiors are among the most remarkable Renaissance spaces in the Czech Republic and most beautiful of all is the banqueting hall with panelled ceiling. The picture gallery houses an outstanding collection of Italian
, Dutch
and Flemish
paintings from the 17th and 18th centuries. The Žerotín armoury contains a collection of pistols and guns made by master gunsmiths at home and abroad from the 17-19th centuries.
, but it has also been in continuous operation since it was founded.
Paper is still made in the traditional way, namely by hand. The pulp is placed on pumping nets, soaked in animal solution and dried with warm air in the attic drying rooms. The high quality paper, still bearing the family's coat of arms
on its watermark, is used for important state and personal correspondence, international contracts and for printing valuable handwritten facsimiles and collectors' items.
Today the factory houses a museum. The only one of its kind in the Czech Republic, it presents the history of paper-making from the use of the old traditional techniques right up to the deployment of modern industrial technologies.
Obec
Obec is the Czech and Slovak word for a municipality . The literal meaning of the word is "commune" or "community". It is the smallest administrative unit that is governed by elected representatives. Cities are also municipalities...
) in Šumperk District
Šumperk District
Šumperk District is a district within the Olomouc Region of the Czech Republic. Its administrative centre is the town of Šumperk.-Complete list of municipalities:Bludov -Bohdíkov -Bohuslavice -Bohutín -Branná -Bratrušov -Brníčko -Bušín -...
in the Olomouc Region
Olomouc Region
Olomouc Region is an administrative unit of the Czech Republic, located in the north-western and central part of its historical region of Moravia and in a small part of the historical region of Silesia . It is named for its capital Olomouc.-External links:* *...
of the Czech Republic
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
. It covers an area of 46.5 square kilometres (18 sq mi), and has a population of 2,832 and lies approximately 10 kilometres (6 mi) north-east of Šumperk
Šumperk
Šumperk is a town and district in the Olomouc Region of the Czech Republic. It is called "The Gate to Jeseníky mountains."- History :Šumperk was founded by German colonists in 1269. The German name Schönberg means "beautiful hill", and the name Šumperk is a Czech garbling of the original German...
, 52 km (32 mi) north of Olomouc
Olomouc
Olomouc is a city in Moravia, in the east of the Czech Republic. The city is located on the Morava river and is the ecclesiastical metropolis and historical capital city of Moravia. Nowadays, it is an administrative centre of the Olomouc Region and sixth largest city in the Czech Republic...
, and 188 km (117 mi) east of Prague
Prague
Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
. Its most popular tourist sites are the château, the spa and the handmade paper mill
Paper mill
A paper mill is a factory devoted to making paper from vegetable fibres such as wood pulp, old rags and other ingredients using a Fourdrinier machine or other type of paper machine.- History :...
, the oldest in Europe.
The chateâu
Built from 1581-1589 on the site of an earlier Gothic fortress by Jan the Younger of Žerotín, the chateâu and its estates remained in the possession of the ancient MoraviaMoravia
Moravia is a historical region in Central Europe in the east of the Czech Republic, and one of the former Czech lands, together with Bohemia and Silesia. It takes its name from the Morava River which rises in the northwest of the region...
n dynasty of Žerotín for more than 300 years. The chateâu consists of three wings overlooking the courtyard with three floors of arcade galleries and is crowned by a narrow octagonal tower. Although Jan was infamous for his ruthlessness towards his subjects, bullying them into woring using methods that were exceptionally cruel even for those days, his descendant Přemek II was worse; in 1662 he had the three ringleaders of a peasant rebellion beheaded. At the turn of the 18th century the Renaissance
Renaissance
The Renaissance was a cultural movement that spanned roughly the 14th to the 17th century, beginning in Italy in the Late Middle Ages and later spreading to the rest of Europe. The term is also used more loosely to refer to the historical era, but since the changes of the Renaissance were not...
buildings were extended with a further three, also arcaded, Barroque-style wings, to which were added a Baroque-style garden featuring romantic little structures and statues.
At the end of the 18th century the Žerotíns fell into debt and began selling their estates. In 1802 they had to sell the family seat in Velké Losiny to the Liechtensteins, in whose possession it remained until 1945. According to unfounded reports the Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
n poet Franz Grillparzer
Franz Grillparzer
Franz Seraphicus Grillparzer was an Austrian writer who is chiefly known for his dramas. He also wrote the oration for Ludwig van Beethoven's funeral.-Biography:...
stayed in the chateâu in the 19th century; he was supposed to have based his tragedy The Matriarch on the sad romantic story of the ghostly Žerotín protectoress. The chateâu interiors are among the most remarkable Renaissance spaces in the Czech Republic and most beautiful of all is the banqueting hall with panelled ceiling. The picture gallery houses an outstanding collection of Italian
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, Dutch
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
and Flemish
Flemish
Flemish can refer to anything related to Flanders, and may refer directly to the following articles:*Flemish, an informal, though linguistically incorrect, name of any kind of the Dutch language as spoken in Belgium....
paintings from the 17th and 18th centuries. The Žerotín armoury contains a collection of pistols and guns made by master gunsmiths at home and abroad from the 17-19th centuries.
The spa
Velké Losiny is a minor spa village. Earlier records of its sulphur springs with temperatures ranging from 22-30 °C, date back to 1576. The spa itself was first mentioned in 1592; sulphuric water being brought from the marshlands to the baths established at that time. The spa buildings are today situated within a park, which, created in 1861, contains rare trees, rhododendrons and azaleas. The spa specialises in treating mobility disorders and children's respiratory problems. The healing process aided by the nice atmosphere and clean air.The paper factory
The distinguishing feature of the village is an old paper factory in which paper was handmade. Housed in a Renaissance building, several storeys high, it was established by the Žerotíns in the 1590s, but only produced real wealth in the second half of the 19th century. The much sought-after paper has been used by the central European nobility and governments for centuries. Not only it is the oldest paper factory in Central EuropeCentral Europe
Central Europe or alternatively Middle Europe is a region of the European continent lying between the variously defined areas of Eastern and Western Europe...
, but it has also been in continuous operation since it was founded.
Paper is still made in the traditional way, namely by hand. The pulp is placed on pumping nets, soaked in animal solution and dried with warm air in the attic drying rooms. The high quality paper, still bearing the family's coat of arms
Coat of arms
A coat of arms is a unique heraldic design on a shield or escutcheon or on a surcoat or tabard used to cover and protect armour and to identify the wearer. Thus the term is often stated as "coat-armour", because it was anciently displayed on the front of a coat of cloth...
on its watermark, is used for important state and personal correspondence, international contracts and for printing valuable handwritten facsimiles and collectors' items.
Today the factory houses a museum. The only one of its kind in the Czech Republic, it presents the history of paper-making from the use of the old traditional techniques right up to the deployment of modern industrial technologies.
External links
- Mumicipalities of Šumperk District Olomouc Regional Statistical Office
- České Hory Website