The estates of the Count Serényi family
Milotice is a village located 45 kilometers (~28 miles) from Brno in the Hodonín District in South Moravia. It is famous for the Milotice Chateau, which is protected as a national cultural monument. The castle’s site was originally a water fortress with a moat around the castle in the 14th century, which was converted into a single-storey Renaissance-style mansion around 1596. In the 1600s, the residence came into the possession of the Serényi family. The Serényi family is an old Hungarian noble family who settled in Moravia in the 17th century and were given the title of count. Members of the family held high-ranking public positions in politics, military affairs, and culture.
The coat of arms of the Serényi family depicts a vertically divided shield, with a blue snake crowned with a golden crown on the right side, a silver-blue striped band on the left side, and above it a silver horse facing right in a jumping position. The Serényi family moved the family seat to Chateau Milotice. Since the original castle did not meet the family’s more demanding housing requirements, Count János Károly Serényi carried out significant Baroque renovations to the castle and its garden in the 17th and 18th centuries. This meant that it was significantly increased in size (it was expanded to two floors) and its decoration was enriched. It became a mesmerizing baroque castle of fairy-tale beauty. The family’s extensive estates in other parts of Moravia also reflected the baroque style. Besides Milotice, they owned Vlachovice, Nový Světlov, Luhačovice, Kunvald, Lomnice, Lysice and Blatná.
“Nothing is more noble, nothing more venerable than fidelity. Faithfulness and truth are the most sacred excellences and endowments of the human mind.”
– Marcus Tullius Cicero
Baroque architecture and garden design
The Baroque architectural style was chosen for a reason at this time, as it aimed to demonstrate power, style, sophistication, and noble elegance. The spectacular, vast spaces of its buildings are impressive and majestic. They are characterized by curved shapes, twisted columns, biblical-themed ceiling paintings, paintings, carvings and gilding. The rooms of the castle are richly furnished with Baroque elegance. Typically, these are round and oval-shaped ornate velvet upholstered furniture with detailed carved decorations and curved legs. Crystal chandeliers, candlesticks, special porcelain and gold-framed mirrors. The castle also has a significant library.
Its French-style Baroque ornamental garden is elegantly designed with perfect symmetry and geometric precision. The area of the castle park includes the ceremonial courtyard, the knight’s hall, the stables, greenhouses and the French park. The flower garden dazzles us with its abundance of roses, peonies, hydrangeas, and lavender. The park is adorned with regularly trimmed hornbeam hedges. The atmosphere of its promenades and arbors is enhanced by imposing statues and fountains populated with water lilies and goldfish.
The chic noble court fashion
Baroque fashion in the 17th century was also characterized by over-decoration and pomp. Expensive fabrics, lace, ribbons, and huge wigs characterized noble attire. Women’s clothing was characterized by high hairstyles, deep necklines, and wide hooped skirts, while men wore their breeches with stockings, ornate coats, and wigs. The special feature of Milotice Castle is that we have the opportunity to rent a historical costume for 30 minutes. The costumes are exact copies of romantic and baroque costumes. In the costume we can walk in the castle park, garden and orangeries. This romantic walk will take us back to the time of true elegance, chic and refined taste.
“A noble soul is not the one that can manage the highest flights but the one that rises very little and falls very little but always dwells in a free, resplendent atmosphere and altitude.”
– Friedrich Nietzsche