Strážky

The centre of the historical settlement of Strážky - the chateau, the Church of St. Anne and the belfry - forms a national cultural monument and counts as one of the most precious architectural sights of the Spiš region. The reconstructed chateau, located in the 19th century English park, shows the development of architectural styles ranging from late Gothic (15th century) to the Renaissance reconstruction and finally to Baroque-Classicist modifications (from the end of the 18th century). In the 16th - 18th centuries the chateau belonged to the Horvath-Stansith's, the family that founded, in that very building, the Latin humanistic school for the children of the Spiš aristocracy (1584-1711) and the library, the largest in Hungary at that time. In the 19th century, the Mednyanszký's and the Czóobel's became the chateau owners. After the death of the last owner and inhabitant of the chateau, Baroness M. Czóobel, in 1972, the Slovak National Gallery became its custodian.

A variety of cultural programmes is offered to the local public. The chateau games are held in early summer. Visitors can spend a pleasant leisurely day in the large chateau and the adjoining English park bordering with the river Poprad. The exhibition of modern Slovak sculpture is installed in the park. The restaurant (open in summer from 15 June to 15 September), located in the courtyard, offers refreshments to the visitors.

Permanent Expositions:

Collection of Antique Furniture, Gold Pieces and Interior Decorations presents part of the original chateau movables and craft pieces completed by the Slovak National Gallery to form a complex interior. The exhibits include furniture, porcelain, glass, faience, carpets, a period table clock from the 18th-19th centuries as well as religious objects mainly from the Spiš region which document a high level of the local goldsmith craftsmanship in the 15th-18th centuries.

The exhibition of the 17th-19th Century Portraiture in Slovakia shows the original family portrait gallery of the aristocratic families who occupied the chateau. The portraits were mostly painted in Slovakia. In view of the popularity of portraiture in Slovakia, the Slovak National Gallery completed the collection with portraits painted by renowned artists.

The exhibition Ladislav Mednyanský (Mednanský) and Strážky shows the creation of one of the most important artists who was born and lived in Slovakia (1852 Beckov -1919 Vienna). The chateau in Strážky was one of the painter's favourite places and it creates a remarkably authentic environment to present his work. The exhibited collection, acquired from the Strážky heritage or purchased by the Slovak National Gallery, also shows his works which are less known to the public and displays their variety and exceptional character (landscapes, portraits, figural pictures, works with social and philosophical themes). The figural creation of Mednanský was perfected through his own experience as a war painter on World War I battlefields.

The historical library forms a separate part of the Gallery. Established in the last quarter of the 16th century by Gregor Horváth-Stansith, the library collection was extended by following chateau owners. Only part of the priceless collection, which contains around 8.500 books, magazines and maps, is currently open to the public. Newly restored volumes gradually complete the library fund. A small exhibition showing the chateau history, its owners and the history of the village is part of the library.