Chateau Marku?ovce & Summer Villa Dardanelle

One of the most gorgeous buildings of eastern Slovakia is situated in the southern part of the Spiš Region. It is the Chateau Markušovce.

The chateau was built in 1643 in the renaissance style and is connected with the name Máriássy family. In 1770 - 1775 the chateau was rebuilt in Rococo style. In the year 1933, the rest of the Máriássy's properties was bought by Alexander Wieland. In the year 1945 the properties together with the chateau was confiscated by state. In 1950 it was adjusted for museum purpose. From 1959 until 1984 it served as furniture museum. After the reconstruction works was in 1994 installed an new exhibition of historical furniture. The furniture exhibits are enriched by a large number of exhibits from applied art, articles from art history, porcelain and glass from Austria, England, Holland, France and collection of garments. The exhibition shows the development of furniture styles in different periods. On the first floor is exhibited furniture from Renaissance, Baroque, Rococo, Classicism, Empire and Biedermeier period. The last exhibition room on the first floor is called the conference hall of Csáky family where is furniture in neo-Gothic style.

The ground floor of the chateau is devoted to historicism (neo-style), the Art Nouveau style and furniture from the beginning of the 20th century. The exhibition is enriched by collection of pictures. The collection includes works by such remarkable painters as János Rombauer, József Czaucik, J. Muller, Johann Jakob Stunder. Of special interest is collection of pictures 'Allegory of senses' from 18th century.

The chateau stands in a French park with three graded terraces. A summer villa named Dardanelle stands on the highest of them.

The summer villa Dardanelle

The summer villa at Markušovce, seat of the museum of keyboard musical instruments - is outstanding monument of Rococo architecture. The summer villa was built in last third of the 18th century by Wolfgang Máriássy. The reason for this decision was the planned visit of the Emperor Joseph second to the Region of the Spiš. Finally, the visit was not realized and so the summer villa fulfilled a role of representative seat to now but emperors Joseph second finally decided not to come. Since 1984 is there exhibition shows keyboard musical instruments. The exhibition shows keyboard musical instruments made on Spiš territory. Includes small organs, pianos, baby grand and clavichord. The exhibition of keyboard musical instruments concentrates on instruments made in Slovakia, especially in the Spiš Region in second half 19th century. The principal representative room in the summer villa is the lounge on the first floor with wonderful frescoes of mythological topics. The lounge also serves as concert hall. Occasionally, several of kind concerts of classic are arranged there. Regularly are arranged Christmas concerts which is very popular among local inhabitants.