The permanent exhibition

The permanent exhibition has two parts:

Hippological museum

The exhibition has two basic sections:

1. The scientific section - in six rooms in the east wing

2.  The horse  in the  arts -  the larger  of the  two sections - devoted exclusively to the horse.

Pictures:

1. The scientific section

Frantisek Bilek

2.  The horse  in the  arts

Examples  of  paintings  of  horses  in  "The Horse in the Arts" section

Corridor on the first floor - a part of the exhibition "The Horse in the Arts"

View through the Rose Chamber

The  Black  Chamber  -  this  chamber  takes  us back to the times of Emperor Rudolf II and of Albrecht of Waldstein

A model  of J.V.  Myslbek´s  statue of  a horse:  Ardou (at  the entrance to the exhibition "The Horse in the Arts")

The Children´s room 1

The Children´s room 2

The Children´s room 3

2. The domestic part of the chateau

The best admired part is the old  chateau kitchen. It is a single unit including  its entrance, and  a small room  for the head cook, which  now contains  a display  of historic  scales. The  kitchen ceased to be used  in May 1945 and had  been used from then on as a storeroom,  the wiring  and wooden panelling reflecting this  fact. This  area was  reconstructed in  the winter of 1999 to 2000  with the  intention of  returning its appearance to that  of 100 years  ago.  The  floor  was  preserved, although the original owners had  repaired it unevenly and  with different materials in several places.  An interesting point  is that around  the stove, where grease and water could be spattered, ceramic tiles had been used,  while the  rest of   the floor  was polished arenaceous marl.

The wooden panelling was cleaned  and only severely damaged parts were replaced with new wood  and newly grained. The difference is obvious  and  is a result   not  only  of  the  possibilities  offered by new materials and the skill of modern craftsmen, but also of a desire to mark the difference between the old  and the new. The large stove had been  fed only  through a  small door  using dry  wood which  was stored in a  space behind a sliding door. The  stove had ovens, a  container for heating water and a compartment for  smoking meat. The meat hung  from a shaft which was turned by  a fan powered by hot air coming up the chimney. Another door above the stove leads into the chimney where meat  could also be smoked. The  water container was made of copper  and could hold 74 litres of water  which could be drawn through a tap. Today, a  stainless steel lining has been inserted which can hold up to  14 litres. Little has  been preserved from the original equipment of the chateau  kitchen, so we  were able to install only the few things which had  survived the cruel era of hatred for all that was  connected with the nobility, on the  one hand, and love for one's own property (!), on the other -  ceramics and a few period pieces presented by  the good citizens  of Slatinany. A  new feature are also chairs, specially made to accommodate groups that can be entertained on request.  The  cosy  atmosphere  of  the  Chateau gallery and the kitchen are an invitation for holding social gatherings, arranged by companies, or for family celebrations.

Other premises  were reconstructed  in the winter  2000 to 2001. More articles are being brought in to illustrate how a historical mansion used to be run.

The scullery  and dishing-up space. When  viewing the kitchen one might start to  think of the different manner  of serving meals in those times. Food was carried to  the dining room on large dishes and there the  diners helped themselves or were  served. The taps over the sinks date from the  period between the World War One and Two, but the refuse disposal arrangement in the corner is more than 100 years old. The stove  there was used for  preparing simple meals for  one or two persons.  It also has  a hot water  container from which  the water could only be taken with  a ladle. A small cellar under this room  was  used  for  storing  coal.  Here  you  may  notice  the surprising  complexity  of  various  reconstruction  work  in the chateau which is manifest in various vaults and support walls.

The boiler room  is less than 100 years old, and  dates from the 1920´s to 1930´s, but one is surprised  by its simplicity, its efficiency and the foresight of its builders for  future expansion, leaving space for  a third  boiler. Just  as  one  speaks with  respect of  the architects,  builders and  craftsmen of  past eras,  we must also admire the craftsmen of today  - Frantisek Hromadko, a mason from Svratouch, Josef  Pavlas,  the  maintenance  man  of Slatinany chateau,   and  Tomas   Kohoutek  and   Jiri  Vitek,  who were performing alternative  military service.  Their skill  and meticulous  work have turned the otherwise dark and  smoke-blackened boiler room into a place  of  remarkable  cleanliness where  visitors  can admire the appliances of  old times. Coal and  coke used to be  brought from the coal  cellar through an  English-style yard by  a push cart  having a discharge outlet.  The distribution  system is  well marked,  and hot water from  the boiler  was circulated all over  the chateau.  Next to  the boiler, a  boulder can be  seen indicating  that in places the foundations touched the parent rock.

Examples of a 100 year-old bidet, 110 year-old toilet bowls, chamber pots  for men  and women,  and especially  a  folding portable toilet are displayed at the rear  end of the room. This is the end  of the tour of the chateau, during which visitors can view what is usually not on show - the premises and articles used in the past by the household personnel.