In a previous post, I confessed my love of grand, empty spaces (Minimalist Confession: I’m an Empty Space Junkie). Unfortunately, while visiting European castles over the last few months, I’ve discovered that grand spaces are rarely empty. On the contrary, they’re usually stuffed with paintings, tapestries, gold gilt decor, and enough furniture to stock a showroom. Royal families have a unique way of making a football-field sized room feel claustrophobic.
Imagine my delight, then, when I recently stepped into Vladislav Hall in Prague Castle (pictured below). I couldn’t believe my eyes: soaring ceilings, unadorned stone walls, bare floors, and enormous windows. The decor consisted of little more than some rustic chandeliers. It was my minimalist dream come true! While other visitors shuffled quickly through in search of something more “interesting,” I stood there entranced by the emptiness — imagining how it would look when I cleared out those red benches and moved in my futon and coffee table.
I just wanted to share this minimalist eye candy with you, and let you know I’ve found the cavernous space of my dreams. I may not be the wisest, wittiest, or most prolific blogger around, but you can’t say I don’t take you interesting places. ;-)
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Those red benches don’t fit the hall at all. Good thing they’re only there temporarily. The third pic is so lovely.
I know, Mia — I’d love to see it with no benches and no people!
OMG. Gorgeous. With architecture like that who needs anything more?
Thanks for sharing.
~janet
Glad you like it, janet!
You blog, it’s more than most of us manage to do – and you’re leading your own little tribe.
Thank you.
LOL, tom — my merry band of minimalists. :-)
Beautiful – if you’re visiting the UK, I recommend most English Heritage properties, especially Tretower Court on the Welsh/English border, and Stokesay Castle, in Shropshire – both wonderful places of soaring ceilings, and I always want to move in!
Hi Michele — I’m living in the UK, so will definitely visit these! Thanks!
I agree with you. I’m always disappointed to visit castles and such stuffed with furniture, etc. When we visited Versailles ages ago, every room looked like the other.
My favorites were always the Norman castles & cathedrals- politics aside. What one considers plain or austere, another considers simple and beautiful. I’m glad to hear that I’m not alone.
Love your blog. Thanks for the photos!
Thanks, Julia — I’m determined to find as many minimalist castles and cathedrals as possible. :-)
That IS beautiful, I haven’t ever been to Prague, but I’d love to go. And I like the open space in your photos as well.
Prague is a gorgeous city; I don’t think I’ve ever seen so much beautiful architecture in one place.
I’m so with you on the empty space thing – and I find it has such an enormous and beneficial effect on my mental health and wellbeing. Do you think we are in some way ‘deviant’ from the norm? Almost everyone I know for real (as opposed to in cyberspace) finds minimalist rooms (or palaces!) barren, sterile, hostile etc etc. I just love it, love it, love it. I’ve just noticed that another Julia in the comments above makes this same point but I guess we minimalists can afford to say the same thing twice on occasion :-)
LOL, Julia – maybe we *are* strange! When we were selling our house, it was described on more than one occasion as “sterile.” My favorite feedback, however, was “it’s serene and monastic.” To each his own. :-)
Quite amazing, I could imagine a great sound system, playing baroque music while painting would fill the space nicely. Maybe there’s some spaces like that in America!
Hi Joshua! If/when I move back to the US, I’ll start my “minimalist spaces in America” tour. ;-)
Hi, I’m glad you liked it. Prague’s my hometown and my beloved one. Pitty I didn’t know (how could I :-)) you were visiting Prague, could have guided you to some more interesting spaces. Some of our medieval monasteries could enchant true minimalist heart too.
Samuel, you’re lucky to live there — I couldn’t get over the beauty of the architecture. I’ll let you know if we plan another trip; would love to see those medieval monasteries!
I have a passion for empty space. Open expanses like Vladislav Hall and the cement factory from your previous post make my soul happy. Maybe it’s a side effect of growing up in Alaska, or being a dancer and wanting room to move- I don’t know, but I find clutter and excess stuff exhausting. Love those arches!
Hi Aurora! I used to dance, too, and always have the urge to sashay and pirouette through these fabulous spaces. :-)
I really like this.
Thanks, Deb J!
Just to take the discussion down a notch: these gorgeous open spaces always make me want to put on a pair of roller skates and whiz around!
You and me both, Frances!
i would hate to live in such a place as those normal palaces with so much…
but the thing i can’t abide is animal skin rugs. :'(
I recognized this ceiling immediately – I was obsessed with it! ha
One of the most beautiful places I have visited was Prague. The cathedral was amazing (I have a guilty love of stained glass).
We’re these castles looted by Communists? Some of the older churches have lots of empty space.