Schloss Zell an der Pram (Zell an der Pram, AUSTRIA)

The Schloss (Castle) that currently stands in the town of Zell an der Pram (not to be confused with quite a number of other towns that are also named Zell in Austria!) is the third "castle" to stand in this location. This particular building was built as a Renaissance style of castle, which replaced earlier versions of the more familiar moated castles from previous centuries. Needless to say, the Renaissance had already seen the development and widespread deployment of gunpowder and cannons, and so the old Medieval style of castles were a quite redundant form of defence.

There has been written records of the town of Zell existing from around 955 AD and first castle to be built on the land was constructed around the 15th century. This newer building dates from the late 18th century.

In the past, the Schloss has served as a brewery and a school (not at the same time...), but now is on a long term loan from the town of Zell an der Pram to the state of Upper Austria. Currently, it is used as a conference venue with a large focus on the performing arts, offering seminar and on-campus weeks of study throughout the year in music and other artistic pursuits.

The surrounding town of Zell an der Pram is quite a picturesque quiet town with a small train station for those who are trying to arrive by public transport (connections in the direction of Germany and Vienna). The walk in from the station offers a nice view of the characteristic painted style of Austrian town houses.

The buildings of the Schloss enclose a paved courtyard which is perfect in summer to be sitting outside after a hard day's work of seminars for a cool beer or bottle of spirits in the cooling evening air... or as an escape from the hot and humid rooms that serve as the on-site accomodation.

The prized venue of this Schloss is the main ballroom (there are many surrounding large rooms as well...), which has incredibly acoustics for music making on stage, or for use as a real dance floor (in the old styles!). There are also balconies for audiences (or performers who aren't currently playing...) to look down upon the action.

The stage is framed by an impressive backdrop of columns and insignia...

... however, on closer inspection... it is in the painted illusion style that was quite popular in that time. So, not real columns and coat of arms, but well painted ones which give the illusion of depth and volume.

This painted deception also extends to some of the balcony decorations such as this above photograph, which depicts a hunter returning (or leaving for...) from a hunt, looking in on the festivities in the ballroom!

Of course, with many of these older style of party rooms, the main attraction is always the roof painting. In this Schloss, the roof does not disappoint at all, with four different scenes wrapping around the large roof area.

Fittingly enough for the seminar which I was attending, there was a music themed one... with many familiar instruments from the Baroque era, in the similar non-modern versions of the instruments as well!

Chandeliers are always an impressive sight, I wish I had a room that was large enough to house one of these... thankfully, we live in an era of electricity, and we don't have hot wax dripping on us anymore!

... and finally, the wall paintings that adorn the covered sections of the balcony area. Much of the artwork displays a sort of Baroque aesthetic that would be later considered gauche or too revealing for modern public tastes.

The Schloss in Zell an der Pram was a pleasant venue to spend a week making and learning about music... and the icing on the cake was the acoustically impressive ballroom in which we all presented many concerts. It was a nice way to break the Coronavirus drought of performing.. and I hope to visit again in the near future!