At the castle in Brtnice, archaeologists are working, their findings will help with the restoration of the castle

Brtnice - Archaeologists at the castle in Brtnice in the Jihlava region have encountered the enclosing wall of an old castle, which was likely destroyed on the surface in the second half of the 18th century. The findings are part of a rescue excavation that will conclude on August 31. A gradual restoration of the castle will follow. Jana Mazáčková from the Institute of Archaeology and Museology at Masaryk University and Dana Závodská from the heritage conservation department of the Jihlava city hall told ČTK today.

The main goal of the archaeologists is to determine what the water and sewage system looks like under the third courtyard. "There is no documentation or survey regarding the sewage or water," Mazáčková said. The layout of several probes was preceded by geophysical surveys and measurements of anomalies beneath the surface.

Mapping the piping is intended to aid in the future preservation of the castle, the first step of which will be the dehumidification of the third courtyard. "We don't want to let it continue like this; not only is the castle affected by water, but we also have wood rot in the walls, which harms us, for instance, in the Entrance Hall, where there are paintings, which document how Brtnice grew, how the castle itself grew. We want to start a bit faster; next year we definitely want to start with dehumidification," Závodská said.

A historical architectural survey will also need to be conducted on one of the most endangered heritage sites in the region. The heritage department has agreed on the gradual restoration of the castle with its owner, the Brtnice Svébyt Association. "We no longer see it as just in the interest of the owner, but as being in the public interest of both heritage conservationists, archaeologists, and the general public. The castle has long suffered, partly due to the state. The Collaltos also did not treat it very well since the 1920s, as this castle did not suit them; they moved to Kněžice," Závodská said.

After 1948, there were offices, apartments, and storage areas in the castle. In addition to humidity, the building also suffers from disrupted statics, with some ceilings collapsed. Nevertheless, visitors walk through the castle. Tours are organized by the Brtnice Castle Association.

Visitors can also view the Entrance Hall, adorned with paintings referencing the year 1723, when Emperor Charles VI visited Brtnice on his way to the coronation in Prague. At that time, the Brtnice estate was already owned by the Collaltos, and Antonín Rombald Collalto was to become a secret councilor.

The archaeologists' research is also likely to change the current perspective on the construction development of the historical site in Brtnice, the origins of which are so far documented back to the 15th century. The waste ceramics found in the courtyard and under the walls suggest that the site of the former castle was inhabited as early as two centuries earlier. "It is clear that some anthropogenic activity took place here since the 13th century, but so far we cannot document a single operational layer from the 13th century; we only have waste. We cannot attribute a stone structure to the 13th century," Mazáčková said.

Dendrochronologically, based on the age of the wood, one of the walls has been dated to the year 1438. This corresponds with a preserved document mentioning the reconstruction of the castle carried out by Zdeněk of Valdštejn. "It is clear that something stood here before, but we cannot say what it looked like," Mazáčková stated.

After the Battle of White Mountain in 1620, the Collaltos acquired Brtnice, owning the castle until 1945. The previous owners were the Valdštejns. After 1989, the ownership of the castle was a subject of court proceedings.