As far back as the early 12
th century, the settlement of Kromeriz, situated near a ford over the Morava River on the site of a former, 9
th century Greater Moravian fortress, belonged to the bishops of Olomouc.
The settlement obtained town status in 1260 from Bishop Bruno of Schaunbury.
A fortified bishop's castle was built at that time. Of this, there remains today only the massive square keep, which stands on one corner of the present-day castle, facing the town. The 14
th and 15
th centuries witnessed several alterations of the castle, but it was the Renaissance which left the strongest mark on the building.
A radical transformation into a Baroque building was effected in 1686 - 1711, thanks to the efforts of Bishop Karl of Lichenstein who summoned the Italian builder, G. P. Tencalla. The great fire in 1752 destroyed much of value in the interior. Renovations were entrusted to several major Austrian artists of late Baroque, among them, F. A. Maulbertsch, who was responsible for the especially noteworthy murals carried out in the Mansky Hall in 1759. The mural decoration of the Great Dining Hall followed soon after in 1770 - 1772, at the hands of France A. of Freenthal.
It was in this hall that the constituent assembly of the nations of Austria was held in 1848. The majority of the priceless paintings which today hang on the castle walls were purchased by Bishop Lichtenstein in an auction sale of the collections of the ill fated Charles I. of England. Among the most prozed pieces are, for example, the panel paintings by Lucas Cranach the Elder, a late Tizian (Apollo and Mars), a double portrait of Charles I. and his wife by Van Dyck, and works by Paolo Veronese and the Basono brothers.
Kromeriz Castle has extensive gardens. One of these was refashioned after the romantic taste of early 19
th century. The gardens contain
a number of minor structures designed by A. Arche. The flower garden, which dates from 1666, exemplifies the mannerist "jardin d'agrement" with original architectural features by G. P. Tencalla. It was restored in 1840-1845 by A. Arche.
Kromeriz held an important role even during the Great Moravian Empire, as it was a junction of major European roads. The importance of this city declined in the 9
th and 10
th centuries, when the new castle of Bretislav was built in Prerov, and even further when prince Ota II. of Olomouc sold Cerny Kromeriz to the Moravian bishop John.
Roman Kromeriz is mentioned in the immunity certificate of Prince Premysl from 1238. In
1256, Kromeriz is still referred to as a
"market village", but soon afterward it became a Gothic city. Bishop Bruno of Schauenburg established the Gothic city of Kromeriz and the Church of St. Morris. He rebuilt the Parish Church of the Virgin Mary in the market village, and in place of the Roman court he established an Early Gothic fortress which was typically used as the seat of the bishops of Olomouc, since the founding of Brno. The medieval Kromeriz was a combination of three elements - the seat of the owner and two market villages (one Slavic, one colonial). Since 1322, a
Jewish town also developed, though it was isolated from the beginning of the 18
th century. King Wenceslas IV. conferred upon the city all privileges in 1411. During the Hussite wars, the city was sold or used as collateral several times, but after the battle of Bila Hora, it was returned to the bishop. After the destruction of the city in 1643, Charles of Lichtenstein initiated an extensive renovation of Kromeriz. During the construction of the Bishop of Kromeriz's castle and gardens, the work of
many sculptors was employed to realize sculptures based on mythical and allegorical themes.
Under the rule of Cardinal Schrattenbach, from 1724-1736, the Baroque Church of the Virgin Mary was built. The greatest construction event of Baroque Kromeriz was the establishment of the Church of St. John the Baptist.
Under the ruling of Olomouc's Archbishop Ant. Th. Colloredo-Waldsee, the city of Kromeriz was again raised in status. In the 18
th century the Franciscan monastery was closed. The Enlightenment and Renaissance are reflected in the look of the castle's parks, which were further altered during following centuries. Kromeriz eliminated medieval establishments such as city gates and walls, and bourgeois houses underwent modifications.
Visitors to Kromeriz can see the rich artistic legacy of the city, which has been protected and restored for decades as a cultural heritage of the city.
Guide 
