After two years of meticulous restoration efforts and an investment of 180 million korunas, the Renaissance garden of Lysice Castle in Blanensku has been resurrected to its former grandeur. This ambitious undertaking, the largest of its kind in the Czech Republic, has transformed the garden into a resplendent oasis, featuring lush green lawns, vibrant rose bushes, meticulously tended flower beds, and abundant rows of ripening strawberries. Anticipation is building as it prepares to open its gates to the public next spring.

With roots dating back to the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, the garden’s revival has been a labor of love, guided by period drawings, maps, and photographs. Visitors can expect to discover numerous charming seating areas and a magnificent colonnade accessible from the castle’s first floor. Historically, this colonnade was a favored retreat for leisurely walks during inclement weather in the fall and winter months. The garden takes pride in its meticulously restored beekeeping station, a terracotta staircase, an artificial castle cave designed to provide respite on scorching summer days, a garden hall adorned with frescoes depicting majestic ships navigating the seas, a greenhouse housing vibrant camellias, and a meticulously rejuvenated fig grove.

This garden is more than just a verdant expanse; it is a meticulously designed landscape divided into thematic sections. Visitors will encounter sphinxes, a secluded nook featuring a statue of the Virgin Mary, and even a corner dedicated to the ancient goddess Flora. Over thirty large vases, designed for planting exquisite flowers, will adorn the garden, many of them awaiting the addition of floral treasures. The garden’s roses, which were once presented as gifts to the court of Romanian kings from Lysice, are a particular source of pride. Awe-inspiring apple, elm, and plane trees, along with endless verdant expanses, create breathtaking vistas. The lily pond is yet another enchanting addition, and while camellia shrubs are set to return to the greenhouse after renovation, new plantings are already underway in the rejuvenated fig grove. It’s a tradition from the Dubský family, the estate’s owners, to send baskets of figs, oranges, and mandarins as Christmas gifts to acquaintances from nearby castles.

The garden’s water system is a marvel of engineering, designed to cascade from the upper sections to the middle and lower areas, nurturing the greenery and crafting romantic corners along the way. During the restoration process, several intriguing artifacts were uncovered, including a wooden trough dating back to the original fortress from which the castle was constructed, crafted from spruce felled in 1401. A 16th-century stone ball and a concealed cellar added to the archaeological treasures unearthed during this remarkable journey.

Already, the garden has received more than twenty wedding reservations for the upcoming season. The restoration of Lysice Castle’s garden stands as a testament to historic preservation and is a treasured asset to Czech heritage, destined to captivate visitors for generations to come.
Article by Prague Forum