One of the gems of the Cesky Krumlov Castle complex is the Baroque Castle Theater. This performance hall is in incredible condition after its renovation in 1997 and is currently in use after its 300 year origin. Many of the original scenes and props are still used!
As a music major, I studied these theaters. It was amazing to be able to actually walk into the theater and see how it worked. There are only two in such amazing condition left in the world. The other is in Sweden. The predominant reason there are only two theaters such as these left in the world is mainly due to fires. Most of the theaters burned down to the ground. The theater was lit by open flames candles and pyrotechnics were also used to achieve certain theatrical effects. The tour guide said that during the performances, there were firefighters on call, just in case… It is a miracle there are two theaters left.
Theater Poster
When we visited, there were tours in Czech and English, but we could not make the English tour, so a Czech tour it was. Being in the Czech Republic only 4 days at that point, we only knew words such as “yes”, “no” and “thank you”. So the tour was not going to be super helpful, but it was the only way to see the theater. Thankfully, the tour guide knew some English and filled us in when she could. It was very generous of her!
Right when we walked in, I took a big gasp. It was fantastic. The scenery was detailed and bold. There were many layers of the set, creating a depth that drew you in. Sadly, no photography is allowed inside. After a short intro, we watched a video in Czech, in which we were able to deduce a few facts and a bit of history. We even got to see instruments that make sound effects like rain, thunder, wind. When you closed your eyes, the sounds were so realistic, you thought you were outside experiencing nature first hand.
Costumes, Sets, and Instruments
Then the tour moved under the stage and explained how the theater worked. I do not know what was more interesting, the intricate stage or the incredibly genius behind the workings of the stage. There were massive pulleys, lumber, and gears that switched all of the set’s scenery within a few seconds. We saw traps doors that characters used to magically appear or disappear from the stage. The entire production was truly an engineering feat!
No matter your background, you will find this theater intriguing and well worth the ticket price.
Follow the links below for more information on the Český Krumlov Castle complex:
- The Castle Overview & Tour.
- The Castle’s Garden & Round Tower.
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