Castle Baroque Theater, Cesky Krumlov

The Castle Baroque Theater, located on the Vth courtyard of the castle, behind the moat near the castle's west wing, it is intricately connected to the castle's architecture and heritage. The Castle Theater is known for its exceptional state of preservation and represents a mature form of Baroque stage design.

The theater's origins trace back to the late 15th century when theater culture began to emerge within the Český Krumlov Castle. In 1675, Prince Johann Christian I von Eggenberg initiated the construction of a theater stage in the Deer Hall within the Krumlov Castle. Later, between 1680 and 1682, a new and independent theater building was erected on the 5th courtyard, on the site where the present theater building stands.

The Theater stands out as a magnificent representation of Baroque theater architecture. It possesses an extensive collection of original theater-related items and archival documentation that offers insights into the theater's rich history. This collection includes the theater building itself, the auditorium, orchestra pit, stage, stage technology, machinery, decorations, costumes, props, lighting equipment, fire extinguishers, and more. Additionally, a wealth of archival materials such as librettos, scripts, texts, sheet music, inventories, accounts, iconographic materials, and other historical records provide a comprehensive view of theater life from the 17th to the 19th century.

What makes the Castle Baroque Theater particularly special is its unique state of preservation, with original stage technology and decorations that reflect the illusive European Baroque style. It is noteworthy that only one other royal theater in the world can be compared to the Krumlov Baroque Theater, namely Sweden's Drottningholm Theater near Stockholm, built in 1766. While the Drottningholm Theater also boasts original stage technology, its decorations date from the 1780s and exhibit features of classicism. In contrast, the Krumlov decorations are rooted in the style of European Baroque.