1889, North Bohemia, Lünz & Lust (Dominion), Josef, Alfons and Jiří Baernreuther. Silver Mlýnce Castle Reconstruction Medal.
Mint Year: ca. 1889
Reference: Donebauer 3265.
Condition: Minor digs and scratches, otherwise a nice XF!
Provenance: SINCONA AG > Auction 59 (22 Oct 2019), Lot 290 (CHF 300).
Denomination: Medal - Commemorating the reconstruction of the Mlýnce Castle (Schloss Lünz) in Lužec (today incorporated in the City of Vroutek in Czechia) by the three Brothers Josef, Alfons & Jiří Baernreuther, which began during 1882 and was completed during 1889.
Material: Silver
Diameter: 28mm
Weight: 6,03gm
Obverse: Radiate figure of the Virgin Mary floating above the reconstructed to a neo-Golthic appearance of the Mlýnce Castle (Schloss Lünz) in the village of Lužec (Lust) and the added church in background. Inscribed banner above.
Legend: A PERICULIS LIBERA NOS "...free us from danger."
Reverse: Inscription in 9 lines, commemoration the building owners and their undertaking, which began during 1882. All within stylized gothic border.
Mlýnce is a neo-Gothic castle in the village of the same name five kilometres southwest of Vroutek in the Louny district. It has been protected as a cultural monument since 1964. The first written mention of the fortress, which was the predecessor of the chateau, dates from the period after the Hussite Wars, when it was inhabited by members of the Harant family of Kořen. In 1614, it was bought by Václav the Elder of Štampach, but soon (1622) he lost all his property for participating in the Estates' Uprising. A year later, Mlýnce was bought by his wife Barbora of Malešice and Poutnova, and her descendants owned the estate until the 19th century. The original fortress was demolished in 1733 by Václav Kager of Štampach and a Baroque four-wing chateau was built in its place.
The Mlýnce Castle acquired its neo-Gothic appearance in the years 1883–1889, when it belonged to the brothers Josef, Alfons and Jiří Baernreuther. They also had a castle chapel added and a park with an avenue of climbing roses and exotic (for the time) plants established.
After 1950, the castle belonged to the Lubenice state estate, which operated apartments, offices and a dining room there. After the castle burned down in 1967, only a small part was restored, which continued to serve as a kitchen and dining room.