7. Paulina’s Court

7. Paulina’s Court

Hlavní třída 22

The opulent building was originally a farmstead of the Tersch family, surrounded only by fields as far as the eye could see. Today’s Neo-Renaissance palace, which dates back to 1876 and was commissioned by Alois Scholz, was inspired by French architecture; it is courtesy of the Viennese architect Moritz Hinträger. The palace was surrounded by a large ornamental garden with a fountain, rare tree varieties, a greenhouse and a tennis court. Peacocks roamed the gardens, only to be enjoyed by the owners back then.

Paulina’s Court is actually a complex of buildings arranged in a square and named after Paulina Chiari, the wife of Dr Karl Chiari, the most eminent owner of the residence. Karl Chiari was originally a doctor who married into an important industrial family in Šumperk. He soon gave up medicine for politics and the family business. He was one of the founders of the Association of Germans of North Moravia and a member of the Reich Council and of the House of Lords. From 1908, he was the proud bearer of the title of baron. His wife Paulina devoted her free time to painting landscapes as well as other activities. Her pieces are part of the Šumperk Museum’s collections, which found refuge in the estate after 1947.