Witchhammer

In the Czech lands, it all began in 1622, when Europe was suffering from the Thirty Years’ War and rinderpest plagued the region around Jeseník. On his deathbed, a local shepherd accused his younger, beautiful wife Barbora Schmied of witchcraft. Hundreds of innocent people died during the witch trials that also afflicted Zlaté Hory and its surroundings. The trials are associated with inquisitor Boblig of Edelstadt.

Jeseník Water Fortress

The late-medieval fortress has a moat, gate, and a stone bridge. It has been estimated that a citadel was established there as early as 1328. It now houses the Jeseník Regional Museum.

The Witch Trials Exhibition presents, in an engaging way, one of the saddest periods in the region’s history. The exhibition unveils the hysteria of that period thanks to modern technology including an audio-guide, touch screens, and a film about the first victim of the Jeseník/Freiwaldau Inquisition, projected onto a wall of dry ice fog. Verbatim, hand-made copies of important documents and replicas of torture implements are also on display.

Bishop’s Palace in Nysa – District Museum

Witch trials reached unprecedented dimensions in and around Nysa. An actual pogrom against witches took place there during the 17th century, which reached its peak in 1622, 1639–42, and 1651–52. More than a thousand women, young girls and even children were burnt to death within nine years.

The palace houses the Nysa District Museum with an exhibition on the witch trials, divided into three parts: the herbwoman’s room, the courtroom, and the dungeon. A witch “at work” can be seen in the room, while the courtroom features the feared “iron maiden of Nuremberg” – a cabinet with spike-covered interior, into which women suspected of witchcraft were confined. The dungeon includes other torture devices from the 17th century, which are exact copies of implements used to force confessions from persons suspected of witchcraft, while the manacles, executioner’s sword, and furniture are authentic period artefacts.

Tipy v okolí

Zlaté Hory Municipal Museum

One of the rooms in the museum – the torture chamber – is devoted to the sad history of witch trials, which also affected Zlaté Hory in the 17th century.

Tipy na ubytování

• WELLNESS & SPA HOTEL VILLA REGENHART, Jeseník
• Hotel Praděd Thamm, Zlaté Hory

Tipy na stravování

• WELLNESS & SPA HOTEL VILLA REGENHART, Jeseník
• Hotel Praděd Thamm, Zlaté Hory

In the Velké Losiny domain, it all started in the Church of Saint Laurence in Sobotín, when beggarwoman Marina Schuch was caught stealing the Host during communion. She was arrested and taken to prison at Velké Losiny Chateau.

The Countess of Galle, administrator of the domain, invited inquisitor Heinrich Franz Boblig to the chateau to investigate the case. With the consent of the countess, Boblig settled at the chateau, cranking up the relentless wheels of the murderous trial machinery, causing several dozen innocent poor souls to be burnt at the stake and their possessions confiscated. Even a priest, Dean Kryštof Lautner, was burnt to death.

Velké Losiny Chateau

The chateau has one of the most prominent displays of late-Renaissance living and architecture in Europe. The chateau was built in the last quarter of the 16th century by John the Younger of Žerotín, who was also instrumental in the development of the local spa and founded the handmade paper mill, still in operation. At the beginning of the 19th century, the House of Žerotín was forced to sell the indebted domain with chateau to the House of Liechtenstein, who later adapted part of the “low” chateau in the Biedermeier style and arranged the park into its present-day form. In 1945, the chateau was confiscated from the Liechtensteins based on the Beneš Decrees.

The Velké Losiny domain is infamous for inquisition trials between 1678 and 1692. It was also the setting of a famous Czech novel and later a film – Witchhammer.

Tipy v okolí

Witch Trials Exhibition in Šumperk

The permanent exhibition, documenting the infamous inquisition trials of 1679–94 that shook the history of Šumperk and its surroundings, is located in the cellars of Geschader’s House. The audio-guide features the voice of inquisitor Heinrich Franz Boblig of Edelstadt who will guide you through the exhibitions.

Tipy na ubytování

• Resort Sobotín
• Villa Aurelia, Velké Losiny

Tipy na stravování

• Motorest Permoník, Sobotín
• Restaurace Losín, Velké Losiny