So last weekend I went to visit the Troja chateau after church.  The Hartmans, Nicole (who's living with the Hartmans) and I went up and spent a nice afternoon meandering around this late 17th century chateau.  It was built by Count von Sternberg right on the river to provide a resting place right next to the royal hunting grounds.  He was hoping to entertain the Emperor Leopold I but had to settle for his son Emperor Joseph I.  He loved Rome and was obsessed with Roman style and so built it in the style of a Roman villa.  There are extensive gardens and orchards that extend out to the river in the 8 pointed star that is the symbol of the Sternberg line. 

This is what you see when you enter the front gate.  The first picture is immediately on your right as you descend the ramp and the second picture is what is immediately in front of you.

I spent a lot of time wandering around the gardens and outside because the inside is restored stuccos and of course they don't allow pictures so the only pictures are from outside.  This is the full front of the chateau.  When you turn around you see this beautiful little staircase and behind it the vineyards and little old chapel up on the hill.

These next pictures are from walking around the side of the house to the actual front of the house.  He built the chateau so that the front faced the river and the royal hunting grounds.

The actual front of the house with the grand staircase.  Most of the statues are of Greco-Roman gods.  From the top of the staircase you can look down and see the depiction of Tartarus.

Me on the grand staircase and a picture of the cool sky and the funky tree

One of the statues and one of the outdoor paintings so I could actually take a picture of it!

This is the chateau from the orchard and the entry hall where you could still take pictures.  So these are the awesome looking doors.

I did pick up the brochure that contains pictures of some of the stucco/frescoes inside the chateau.  I was actually more impressed by the inlaid wood that is prevalent in the building.  Every door and piece of furniture is very intricate inlaid wood.  Absolutely gorgeous.  The paintings are amazing as well and overwhelming in some rooms.  If you find me when I return I will show you the little booklet with the pictures of the art.