DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.16633#0032
Germany and the Netherlands in the Time of the Renaissance
13
next to it; on one side this is bordered by an airy walk, and the lower building is very likely
the armoury. Perhaps this little garden was one of the "paradises" seen by the strangers.
Close by the castle and in the wall is built the great festival hall, whose windows look
out on the ornamental garden below. The second side of this square parterre encloses
the covered tennis-court, and there is a low wall protecting the third side, while the
fourth appears to be open towards the park, but shut off by a row of tall trees, which follow
the line of the house.
The parterre is divided into nine geometrical squares, which are apparently encircled
by low fencing. In the centre there is a small round open pavilion on pillars, probably to
take meals in, while in the park, which goes all about this side of the castle hill, there
FIG. 361. CASTLE AMBRAS, TYROL
stands, raised high up on the wall, the great round pavilion with the revolving table.
A long narrow piece between walls and near the parterre may perhaps be the stadium,
and beside it is the cellar with its underground delights. This place corresponds to what
Gesner demanded for a princely garden. It makes us think of early French gardens, such
as Gaillon or Blois. In the copious supply of playgrounds and their buildings, and in
the art collection, we find the personality of this prince, whose knightly nature and love
for art were renowned far and wide. At his beautiful seat were held the wonderful Shrove -
Tuesday feast, the shows, and the tournaments of the year 1580, when Ferdinand was able
to take his delight in splendour and happiness and m his wife's love. But a few weeks later
the mistress of the castle died quite suddenly, and Philippina Welser took with her to
the grave the finest flowering of the princely home.
Only a short time after Ferdinand had made Ambras the glory of his Tyrolese land,
his elder brother Maximilian II. created in the neighbourhood of Vienna a castle of
pleasure that not only caused admiration in his contemporaries and surprised wonder in
succeeding generations, but has offered many a riddle to ourselves. On the south-east of
the town there is still, on a height, a square place surrounded by battlemented walls.
These are topped by towers at regular intervals, but in the front, facing the Danube,
13
next to it; on one side this is bordered by an airy walk, and the lower building is very likely
the armoury. Perhaps this little garden was one of the "paradises" seen by the strangers.
Close by the castle and in the wall is built the great festival hall, whose windows look
out on the ornamental garden below. The second side of this square parterre encloses
the covered tennis-court, and there is a low wall protecting the third side, while the
fourth appears to be open towards the park, but shut off by a row of tall trees, which follow
the line of the house.
The parterre is divided into nine geometrical squares, which are apparently encircled
by low fencing. In the centre there is a small round open pavilion on pillars, probably to
take meals in, while in the park, which goes all about this side of the castle hill, there
FIG. 361. CASTLE AMBRAS, TYROL
stands, raised high up on the wall, the great round pavilion with the revolving table.
A long narrow piece between walls and near the parterre may perhaps be the stadium,
and beside it is the cellar with its underground delights. This place corresponds to what
Gesner demanded for a princely garden. It makes us think of early French gardens, such
as Gaillon or Blois. In the copious supply of playgrounds and their buildings, and in
the art collection, we find the personality of this prince, whose knightly nature and love
for art were renowned far and wide. At his beautiful seat were held the wonderful Shrove -
Tuesday feast, the shows, and the tournaments of the year 1580, when Ferdinand was able
to take his delight in splendour and happiness and m his wife's love. But a few weeks later
the mistress of the castle died quite suddenly, and Philippina Welser took with her to
the grave the finest flowering of the princely home.
Only a short time after Ferdinand had made Ambras the glory of his Tyrolese land,
his elder brother Maximilian II. created in the neighbourhood of Vienna a castle of
pleasure that not only caused admiration in his contemporaries and surprised wonder in
succeeding generations, but has offered many a riddle to ourselves. On the south-east of
the town there is still, on a height, a square place surrounded by battlemented walls.
These are topped by towers at regular intervals, but in the front, facing the Danube,