The Ostrov Summer Residence is located in the centre of the château park. Julius Francis, Duke of Saxe-Lauenburg had this summer residence built on the site of the older, wooden summer residence of Julius Henry, Duke of Saxe-Lauenburg according to the designs of Abraham Leuthner in the years 1673 – 1679.
The Present
Today, the Ostrov Summer Residence houses a branch of the Karlovy Vary Art Gallery, which presents the works of Czech artists primarily dating to the first half of the twentieth century as short-term exhibitions. Aside from these exhibitions, the gallery also organises various interesting workshops. Guided tours of the current exhibitions and on the building’s history are available to visitors.
Opening hoursa
May – October: Tuesday – Sunday 10.00 am – 5.00 pm.
Group tours can book also in the off-season by prior arrangement at the telephone numbers +420 737 072 522 or +420 731 439 452.
Admission Fees
- Exhibitions: basic CZK 40/discounted CZK 20
- Admission Fee to the historic interior: CZK 20
Free entry to all exhibitions every first Wednesday of the month.
DISCOUNTS FOR: children under 15 years of age, students, pensioners, holders of severe health disability cards, holders of severe health disability requiring assistance cards, families, and groups
Contacts
Château Park 226, 363 01 Ostrov
Tel.: 737 072 522, e-mail: letohradek@galeriekvary.cz
Web site: www.letohradekostrov.cz
FB: Letohrádek Ostrov
History
The early Baroque Summer Residence was built to the orders of the estate owner, Julius Francis, Duke of Saxe-Lauenburg (1641–1689), in the years 1673–1683 according to the designs of the Prague builder Abraham Leuthner on the site of the original wooden building. The layout of the building, as well as its fresco and stucco décor, hints at the influence of Italian art. The illusion-like fresco paintings in the Summer Residence were created in the 1690s. Their authorship is assigned to the Italian masters who worked at the court (architect and painter Domenico Egidius Rossi, the painters Lazaro Maria Sanguinetti and Paolo Manni).
Apotheosis of the Hero
These allegorical figures and ancient gods celebrated the exceptional military and ruling abilities of one of the eminent owners of the Ostrov estate, Ludwig Wilhelm, the Margrave of Baden. This military leader, dubbed “Türkenlouis” because of his victory over the Turkish armies in the Danube Lowland, achieved fame by saving European Christianity from the Turkish aggression. In 1690, the Margrave of Baden married the last princess of Saxe-Lauenburg, Franziska Sibylla Augusta.
Permanent Exhibit of Porcelain
The permanent exhibit of the unique porcelain collection of the Secondary School of Applied Arts in Karlovy Vary maps the period from the beginning of the 19th century to the second half of the 20th century. The exhibit presents the production of the prominent porcelain factories in the region – for example, Horní Slavkov, Chodov, Loket, Březová, Klášterec nad Ohří, Ostrov, and others. It also presents examples of global production – e.g. the Royal Porcelain Factory in Copenhagen, Meissen, Germany, Japan, and China. Both applied and figurative porcelain is on display.
Accompanying events
The Ostrov Summer Residence is a venue for not only exhibitions of modern art, but it is also an open space for meetings and creative activities. Each year, it organises a range of side events. It prepares animation programmes for school groups, in which it attempts to teach children about modern art. The main events organised for the public include the Garden Fête, which takes places each year in May, the Historic Picnic, which takes place in July, and the Art Symposium that takes places in September.
