The Romanesque Episcopal Palace

Romanesque Bishops Palace is an attractive unit with Archdiocesan Museum from September 2006. Go through the barrier of the former chapter deanery in the cloister and Romanesque palace while it is possible for the first time in thousands of years of history of the palace. During extensive reconstruction is the emergence of new exhibition halls (New dungeons and New Hall), through which visitors pass from the basement burgraviate directly into the cloister Romanesque Bishops Palace. Complete tour of the Archdiocesan Museum, including the palace, however, for technical reasons only possible during the summer tourist season, from 1 April to 30 September. In another time by appointment only. Romanesque Bishops Palace, unlike the exhibition halls is not heated.

The Episcopal Palace is among the most important residential buildings from the High Romanesque period in Europe. It has often been referred to as the Premysl Palace, in the mistaken belief that it was once home to the Olomouc dynasty of that name. We now know, however, that it was in fact the residence of the Bishop of Olomouc Jindrich Zdík, one of the outstanding figures of 12th Czech history.

Jindrich Zdik is thought to have been the son the chronicler Cosmas. With his excellent education and regular contact with influential circles throughout Europe, he gained a broad knowledge of intellectual, political and ecclesiastical life, enabling him to carry out many ambitious projects such as introducing the Premonstratensian Order to the Czech lands. He also attempted to reform the Moravian church. Bishop Zdik was more than just a politician and reformer: he was also a great lover of the arts. On his travels around the continent he invited the best sculptors, stonemasons and illuminators to work for him in Olomouc, where they created many magnificent works.

As we have seen, it was built soon after the Church of St. Wenceslas, which was founded at the beginning of the 12th by Svatopluk, Duke of Olomouc, and completed by Bishop Zdik. Next to the church the bishop then built himself a magnificent residence, attached to which was a small rectangular cloistered courtyard and a chapter-house intended mainly for social receptions. In 1141 Zdik moved into his new quarters, along with twelve of his canons. Architecturally, the residence was unique in 12th C Bohemia and Moravia. The palace was oblong in shape and had two storeys. The ground floor housed administrative offices, while the clerics’ private apartments were all on the first floor.

Romanesque Window

The ornate palace windows are clear evidence of both the sophistication of Romanesque art and the refinement of Bishop Zdik’s taste. These two-light or gemel windows are made of a soft limestone known as spongilite well suited to intricate ornamental carving. The style of the superb lace-like tracery suggests that specialist stonemasons were employed for this work, most likely from the Rhineland and southern France. The windows were originally fitted with shutters.

Yet neither this extraordinary Romanesque building complex, nor the communal ecclesiastical life within its walls, survived long after the death of Bishop Zdik in 1150. After a series of fires the buildings were demolished and replaced with the cloisters you see now.

Cloisters

The High Gothic cloisters were built at the same time as the cathedral of St. Wenceslas in the mid-14th C, replacing the earlier Romanesque cloisters that had been destroyed by fire. On ground floor level, however, two of the original Romanesque outer walls can still be seen, on the north and west sides.

The series of frescoes in the north side of the cloister depict the Last Judgement, the Annunciation, The Adoration of the Kings, the Adoration of the Shepherds and epitaphs commemorating two Olomouc canons. On the east side you will see the Crucifixion, the Lamentation, the Resurrection, and the Suffering Christ. The frescoes were painted at different times between 1470 and 1530 and are the work of several artists. The Adoration of the Kings, which shows the influence of Albrecht Dürer, is generally regarded as the masterpiece of the series. The artist probably worked with the Augsburg master Ulrich Apt.