Symbolic World

Prince Eggenberg created a political utopia in his new residence - a symbolic world where all knowledge, elements and powers of the universe should have an allegorical place. And the symbolism of his creation is especially significant; the intellectual and aesthetic concept of the architecture was to become a subject of admiration and an expression of the dignity and erudition of its builder and owner.

As with all ideal states described in literature, Eggenberg is also situated on an "island", which is separated from the rest of the world by the symbolic waters of the moat. Created as a copy of the universe, everything is integrated into the concept of cosmic harmony. The corners of the palace face in each of the four cardinal directions so that the sun, which rises in the East, moves across the palace throughout the day like a huge sundial and each façade is lit up by it during a certain time of the day. In addition to the four wind directions, this is also reminiscent of the four times of the day and the sides of the palace correspond to morning, midday, evening and night. The disposition of the rooms also has to be understood as a ingenious programme. The palace is created to reflect a strong hierarchical order, which goes from everyday life on the ground floor to the ideal world of ideas on the uppermost floor. The core of the palace is the central tower, which rises above the whole palace and which, together with fountain grotto and chapel, with cave and tower, leads into an unknown world of alchemistic concepts intended both for meditation and decoding.