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Guided Tour

The core of the tour through the Archiepiscopal Palace that acquired its current appearance by a vast reconstruction of the original Renaissance palace is a set of several representation halls from various ages; they occupy the entire so-called “noble” first floor of the west wing of the residence.

The representation halls offer spaces full of bright colors and so varied is also their history as well as number of personalities who stayed here (Empress Maria Theresa, Emperor Franz Joseph I, Jean Cardinal Verdier, Presidenta T. G. Masaryk and Václav Havel, Pope St. John Paul II). These premises currently serve for social and cultural events mainly.

Basic information

The standard tour time is 45 minutes.

ENTRANCE STAIRS

The tour starts in the entrance hall dominated by a monumental staircase guarded by a pair of lions. Its dominant feature is the sculptural group of Sts. Cyril and Methodius, patron saints of the nation as well as of Europe. The author of this plaster model is sculptor Emanuel Max from Prague. Decoration of the entrance hall as well as the sgraffito decoration in the residence corridors is by painter Jano Köhler.

In this “communication space”, visitors often meet significant guests of the palace passing by or Archbishop Jan Graubner (auxiliary bishop of Olomouc since 1990, archbishop in office since 1992), his auxiliary bishops, employees of the diocesan curia and religious sisters who live and work here.

FIRST FLOOR CORRIDOR

Köhler’s fresco decoration in this part of the building stresses the importance of the towns of Kroměříž and Mikulov as secondary residences of archbishops. Besides portraits of the imperial family, the Olomouc dean Leopold von Podstatzky-Prusinowitz is depicted here – a man who housed the famous composer, then eleven-year-old Wolfgang Amadeus ​​Mozart, in his deanery on the Wenceslas Square.

PREČAN LIBRARY

The library, furnished in 1939 on the 50th anniversary of the priestly ordination of Archbishop Leopold Prečan, consists of 3–5 thousand volumes.

CEREMONIAL HALL

The largest hall of the residence, richly decorated by stucco by Josef Hladík and the allegory of four seasons, was the scene for visits of President T. G. Masaryk or Pope St. John Paul II. Dominating the hall is a portrait of the Archbishop of Olomouc and Cardinal Rudolph Johann Habsburg, who was – among other things – a pupil and patron of the famous composer Ludwig van Beethoven. Receptions, conferences, trainings, graduations, awarding of honorary doctorates and of the Olomouc City Awards, concerts and events of spiritual nature take place here.

THRONE HALL

The hall became famous in history as the place of enthronement and a several-month-long “Olomouc” reign of the Austrian Emperor Franz Josef I.

GOLDEN HALL

Another of the smaller chambers testifies the collecting activities of archbishops, especially of the art-loving Leopold Prečan. In addition to Meissen porcelain, Haban pottery and majolica, painted porcelain and special colored glass of fantastic animals can be seen here.

CHAPEL

A small space for private prayers, reopened during the unveiling of the original brocade wallpapers after 1980.

RED HALL

The hall, designed for Empress Maria Theresa, later became the site of a strategic meeting between the Russian Tsar Alexander and the Austrian Emperor Francis II before the “Battle of the Three Emperors” at Austerlitz in 1805.

GREEN HALL

This smaller intimate room commemorates the peace settlement between Prussia, Russia and Austria (the so-called “Punctation of Olmütz” in 1850) and the visits of Presidents Edvard Beneš (in connection with the restoration of the Palacký University after World War II) and Václav Havel (the university awarded him an honorary doctorate).

ROCOCO CABINET

It is a small study with a Rococo ceiling and a stove in the shape of a cornucopia.

GALLERY ROOM

The space rebuilt into an exhibition room where short-term exhibitions are installed.