zamek Jansky Vrch, 790 70 Javornik, tel. fax.: +420 645 440 286
Javornik castle was founded in 1307. During its history its owners changed many times - mostly was owned by bishops. It was rebuilt at the end of the 15th century and again in the beginning of the 17th century. German composer Karel Ditters von Dittersdorf (1739 - 1799 lived here from 1766. The castle was rebuilt into a chateau in the beginning of 19th century by Kristian Hohenlohe - Bartenstein.
In the castle is based a unique collection of pipes.
The history of Jansky Vrch, the only historical house open to public in the Jesenik district, dates back probably as far as the 2nd half of the 13th century, when a castle was built on the strategic hill over the Javornik medieval settlement. The first written record mentioning the castle Javornik comes from the year 1307, when it was owned by the dukes of Svidnik. In 1348 the castle was sold to the bishop of Breslau Preclav z Pogarel (Vratislav, nowadays Wroclaw in Poland, earlier Breslau in Prussia). Since that time the castle and its surroundings were a part of a larger territory belonging to the Vratislav bishopric.
In the course of the 15th century the castle was severely damaged not only by the Hussitte wars but also by the decision of the bishopric to bring down the defence system in order to prevent any further intervention on a part of a potential enemy.
It was only in the late 15th century that bishop Jan Roth started a big reconstruction project. Its late gothic stage was finished by Roth's successor bishop Jan Thurzo. At this time the name of the castle was changed to Jansky Vrch to honour the patron saint of Wroclaw bishopric - the Saint John Baptist. Two stone relief tables, witnesses to this particular historical period, are still to be seen inserted in the castle walls.
The final rebuilding of the medieval castle, later a residence with a renaissance palace, into a baroque chatteau took place during the reign of bishop Fillip Gotthard Schaffgotsch (1716 - 1795). Schaffgotsch surrounded himself by many noted personages of his time, in particular by musicians. In 1769 he invited to Jansky Vrch Carl Ditters von Dittersdorf, an outstanding composer, violinist and conductor of his time. Jansky Vrch soon became one of the most important music centres in Silesia. During Ditters's nearly 30 years spent in Jansky Vrch he composed more than 40 comic operas and is nowadays viewed as one of the founding fathers of the German comic opera genre.
Schaffgotsch's successor- bishop Josef Kristian Hohenlohe-Waldenburg-Bartenstein should be mentioned mainly because of the final rebuilding works which were carried out during his rule and by which the chateaux acquired its today's appearance.
The chateaux played an important role as the centre of culture and arts in the Jesenik area even in the following years. In the summmers of 1856 and 1857 Jansky Vrch wittnessed two visits by Josef von Eichendorff, a well-known repesentative of German romanticism. There is a stone bench with a view in front of the chateaux named in honour of this poet. Weather permitting there is a beautiful view of Poland, of the nearby Otmuchow and Nisa lakes in particular.
Until the end of the second world war the chateaux served as the summer residence of the Wroclaw bishopric. In 1959 was Jansky Vrch lent to the state. Only after the mutual agreement between the Czech and the Polish Roman Catholic churches had been reached, was it possible to come forward with the full nationalization of the chateaux, which took place in 1984. These days Jansky Vrch is administered by the Museum in Jesenik.
Opening hours:
| | April & October | May - August | September |
| Monday | close | close | close |
| Tuesday | close | 08:00 - 16:00 | 09:00 - 15:00 |
| Wednesday | close | 08:00 - 16:00 | 09:00 - 15:00 |
| Thursday | close | 08:00 - 16:00 | 09:00 - 15:00 |
| Friday | close | 08:00 - 16:00 | 09:00 - 15:00 |
| Saturday | 09:00 - 15:00 | 08:00 - 16:00 | 09:00 - 15:00 |
| Sunday | 09:00 - 15:00 | 08:00 - 16:00 | 09:00 - 15:00 |
Guide 
