Page 165 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Prague

FUR THER AFIELD  163

e Villa Müller r Břevnov
Müllerova Vila Monastery
Nad Hradním vodojemem 14. Břevnovský Klášter
X Hradčanská, then v 1, 18 to Markétská 28. Tel 220 406 111. v 22,
Ořechovka. & 8 Tue, Thu, Sat & Sun: 25. 8 only. On request Mon–Fri (call
9am, 11am, 1pm, 3pm & 5pm; 220 406 270); 10am, 2pm Sat & Sun;
reservations needed (Tel: 224 312 also 4pm Apr–Oct. & ^
012). ∑ muzeumprahy.cz ∑ brevnov.cz
A severe, white concrete façade, From the surrounding suburban
asymmetric windows and a flat housing, you would never guess
roof characterize the Villa Müller. that Břevnov is one of the oldest
It was designed by Modernist parts of Prague. A flourishing
architect Adolf Loos and built community grew up here around
in 1928–30 by construction the Benedictine abbey founded
entrepreneur František Müller in 993 by Prince Boleslav II (see
for himself and his wife Milada, p22) and Bishop Adalbert
who were leading lights of (Vojtěch) – the first monastery The 16th-century Star Hunting Lodge in
Czech society at that time. in Bohemia. An ancient well its peaceful surroundings
Loos used his innovative spatial called Vojtěška marks the spot
theory known as “Raumplan” in where prince and bishop are t White Mountain
the design of both the outside said to have met and decided and Star Hunting
and the inside of the building, to found the monastery.
so that all the spaces look and The gateway, courtyard and Lodge
feel interconnected. The roof most of the present monastery Bílá Hora a Hvězda
terrace at the top of the buildings are by the great Obora Hvězda. X Petřiny. v 1, 18,
house provides a “framed” Baroque architects Christoph 22, 25. Obora Hvězda (game park):
view of Prague cathedral and Kilian Ignaz Dientzenhofer Open 24hrs daily. Summer House
in the distance. (see p129). The monastery Hvězda: Tel 220 612 230. Open May–
In contrast to the building’s Church of St Margaret was Sep: 10am–6pm Tue–Sun. & ^
functional exterior, the interiors completed in 1715, and is based
combine traditional furnishings on a floorplan of overlapping The Battle of the White
with vibrant use of marble, ovals, as ingenious as any of Mountain (see p33), fought on
wood and silk. The villa fell Bernini’s churches in Rome. In 8 November 1620, had a very
into disrepair during the 1964, the crypt of the original different impact for the two
1950s, and in 1995, ownership 10th-century church was main communities of Prague.
passed to the city of Prague. discovered below the choir For the Protestants, it was a
A programme of restoration and is open to the public. Of disaster that led to 300 years
took place between 1997 the other buildings, the most of Habsburg domination; for
and 2000, when it was opened interesting is the Theresian the Catholic supporters of the
to the public as a National Hall, with a painted ceiling Habsburgs, it was a triumph,
Cultural Monument. dating from 1727. so they built a memorial chapel
on the hill. In the early 1700s,
this chapel was converted
into the grander Church of
Our Lady Victorious and
decorated by leading
Baroque artists, including
Václav Vavřinec Reiner.
In the 16th century, the
woodland around the battle
site had been a royal game
park. The hunting lodge,
completed in 1556, survives
today. This fascinating building
is shaped as a six-pointed star –
hvězda means star. On site
is a small exhibition about
the building and its history.
Also on show are exhibits
relating to the Battle of
the White Mountain and
temporary exhibitions
Modernist Villa Müller, seen from the garden about Czech culture.

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