Belveder Hunting lodge

The hunting lodge Belveder is a salet and summer castle in the Lednico-Valtice area at the Bezručova alley, on the Fox Hill on the edge of Valtice in the Břeclav district. As a cultural monument of the Czech Republic, he became one of the most interesting visitors places in the region after a recent expensive reconstruction. Today, the public serves as a cafe and venue for social events.

The Empire-style castle was built in 1802-1806 by Prince Jan I. z Lichtenštejna. The building was managed by its top architect Josef Hardtmuth, who created a building with octave central part and side wings. The architectural solution was typical of the time and provided an interesting space for rich decoration. But the fate of the castle was stormy until the 20th century. In 1894 the complex burned down but was restored with a new painting. After nationalization after World War II, the state did not care about the construction and the object gradually faded. For decades, the Academy of Sciences, which used it as its workplace, managed it, but damaged it by non-professional interventions. The decrepit hunting lodge had long remained in a state of emergency and was not open to the public. It was only from 2018 that a long reconstruction started, which was supposed to cost CZK 12 million and was planned for the end of 2020. The castle was first opened to the public in June 2021 after its completion.

The most remarkable is the interior of Belveder. The main octagonal hall was decorated by Viennese painter Johann Joseph Langenhöffel (1750-1807) with an illusory painting in pompsy style, which created a fascinating illusion of space. Even more exceptional is the fitting of the lounge after the fire of 1894. Prince Alois I. z Lichtenštejna decorated it with rare silky Chinese wallpaper, which he obtained from the property of the executed French Queen Marie Antoinette - a fact which makes Belveder one of the most unusual places in Czech culture. In the middle of the lounge was a Chinese man surrounded by his species on carved seats. By the walls, black chairs were built with pearls unloaded. The lighting was provided by lanterns with chandelier decorated with paintings of Chinese dragons. The walls were decorated with silk wallpaper and paintings by Langenhöffel, supplemented by rare porcelain collections. In 1928 further enrichment was planned with silk wallpaper from the already extinct Chinese pavilion, but this never happened.

Belveder is easy to reach - it is located near the II / 422 road connecting Lednice and Valtic. The castle is led by a blue tourist brand coming from Valtice and continuing to Hlohovec. There is also a red marked tourist trail leading from Diana's temple to the colonnade in Rajstva. Today, Belveder is a place where you can enjoy cafes, admire unique Chinese interiors and penetrate the rich cultural history of Lednico-Valtice.