The Schlackenwerth Room in the Rossi House

The Schlackenwerth Room is a reminder of the close historical ties between Rastatt in Baden and Ostrov in the Czech Republic - the former Schlackenwerth. It is located in the historic Rossi House opposite the baroque residence and is a branch of the city museum. The room can be visited free of charge during the opening hours of the Rossi House.

Shared history connects

The town of Ostrov lies on the slopes of the Ore Mountains near Karlovy Vary. The historical connection has its origins in the person of the Rastatt Margravine Sibylla Augusta, who came from the Bohemian town of Schlackenwerth - now Ostrov - and married Margrave Ludwig Wilhelm von Baden-Baden in 1690. After his death, she was regent of the Margraviate of Baden-Baden from 1707 to 1727. in 1969, the town of Rastatt decided to become a sponsor of the Schlackenwerth Heritage Association. Ostrov and Rastatt have been twin towns since 1991. Click here for the official video about Ostrov.

Sibylla Augusta's legacy stands the test of time

Having become famous as a builder, benefactress and passionate collector of glass and porcelain, Sibylla Augusta had a decisive cultural influence on the baroque city. Through her legacy, she has left behind a connection to her homeland that has endured through the ages. In both towns, for example, there are chapels that are almost identical in construction, and statues of St. John of Nepomuk, who is venerated in Bohemia, can be found on bridges in Rastatt. After the end of the Second World War, many displaced people from Schlackenwerth sought a new cultural and spiritual home and found it in Rastatt.

50 years of sponsorship - room for remembrance

The Schlackenwerth Room in the Rossi House in Rastatt was opened in July 2019 to mark the 50th anniversary of the sponsorship between the town of Rastatt and the Schlackenwerth Heritage Association. Original exhibits are used to trace the history of Schlackenwerth - from the founding of the town to the expulsion and its development after 1945.

Preserving historical cultural assets

With the Schlackenwerth Room, those responsible want to preserve the historical cultural assets, commemorate the expulsion and enable people to encounter the present day in the town. Pieces of Schlackenwerth porcelain and a facsimile of the Schlackenwerth Codex from 1353 provide an insight into the town's history. Regional costumes reflect the culture of the region, including the Egerland dialect. A model of the town and several film sequences are available to illustrate Ostrov's present. Various contemporary witnesses describe their experiences, so that the Schlackenwerth room serves as a place of remembrance and information.