dvůr Lamberk Manor farm

Welcome to Olešnice. You're standing right in front of the Lamberg Court, which, by its unusual appearance, certainly caught your eye at first sight. In front of you is a closed complex of buildings that forms a very special shape. If you look at the total available, you'll see that the buildings are not just spaced out, but they form an almost ideal hexagon. It is a truly rare arrangement that makes this place a unique monument throughout the South Moravian Region. Feel this atmosphere of peace and history that surrounds this space, and allow me to guide you through the story of this place.

Let us now look at how this court was created. The history of this place dates back to the beginning of the seventeenth century, when the original court of Chernohaus stood here. But that was just the basis for what you see today. There was a radical reconstruction around the year. It was at that time that the fascinating Baroque form was formed in a hexagon which defines the whole character of the complex. This intervention was not only aesthetic, but reflected the needs and visions of the builders at the time. The court was not a gedacht as a lavish castle for the residence of nobles, but rather as a functional economic unit which was to serve the administration of surrounding landscapes.

Now pay attention to the architecture itself and the details that you can observe right in front of you. Note how buildings surround the inner space and create a sense of security and closure. It is typical of the economic courts of that time where it was important to have everything under control in one place. Please look closely at the main facade of the building. If you aim your eyes at the upper parts, you'll see a cast iron sign, specifically the coat of arms of the Honrichs. This little detail tells us about the people who once ruled here and who left their mark in the form of this metal character. He is a silent witness to the times when strict hierarchy and order ruled here.

Speaking of people, let's stop by the personalities that linked their fates to the Lamberg Court. In addition to the Honrichs, the David Černohaus z Neudorfu, which was related to the original court, or Karel Benedikt z Lamberka, played a role here. These men formed the shape of this place and determined its fate. The Court has long served as a seat of officials and mainly as a forest office of the Kunštátský estate. So imagine that this place was once the center of the management of huge forest areas, where it was decided on the management of nature, logging and animal protection. It was a place full of officials, recorders and foresters who did their work here every day.

But history is not only about authorities and nobles, but also about changes in functions. Between the year seven hundred and fifty and a thousand seven hundred seventy-five, the court went through further partial adjustments to suit its role as a forest authority. Later, in the first decades of the twentieth century, namely between the years nine hundred twenty and a thousand nine hundred twenty-nine, the northern part of the complex was rebuilt. Within these changes, one of the gates disappeared, which slightly changed the original symmetry of the hexagon.

Now I want to take you to a much newer time, which may be a little more sad, but at the same time very interesting. In the second half of the twentieth century, nine hundred fifty to one thousand nine hundred ninety, the court became the administration of the single agricultural cooperative. Over these decades, the buildings began to slowly disintegrate. The memory of baroque glory was covered by the dust of economic traffic. Yet there have been unusual stories. Note that history is not only about great battles, but also about small crafts. In the second half of the last century there was a Dutch family who came up with a very original idea. They used the old roofing cover that they made pots from. It is fascinating to think that in these historic walls, this was such practical and creative work with material that was handy.

I'm sure one more interesting thing will interest you. At the end of the 1990s, namely between thousands and nine hundred and ninety-five and thousands and nine hundred and ninety-nine, the Lamberg Court became a stage for the world of screens. The premises were used to shoot a television show. So imagine that these walls, which once heard the orders of the forest officials and the rustling of papers in the offices, suddenly hosted film crews, actors and cameras. For a while, the Court abandoned its role as an economic complex and became part of the story for thousands of spectators.

Today the court is privately owned. When you look at it, you see a combination of baroque genius in the form of a hexagon and traces of time left by the generations here. It's a place where the administration of the estate meets, the craftsmanship of the Dutch family and the magic of television.

Now let's take a quiet look at the entire circumference of this unusual hexagon. I suggest you re-search the cast iron coat of arms on the facade and try to imagine what this court looked like at the time of its greatest glory, when officials drove out of its gates into the kunštát forests. Feel the silence that exists in this space today, and think about how many different lives have intersected in these walls.

Thank you for your attention and I wish you a pleasant continued tour around Olešnice. I hope you're interested in the Lamberg Court with its unusual architecture and stories. Goodbye.