Fíkovna (Lysice) Fig plant

The Fig House is located in the western part of the Lysice Chateau grounds in the Blansko district, in the immediate vicinity of the greenhouse and the orangery. Together with the entire chateau, it is protected as a national cultural monument. It is a technical building that serves as a testament to historical gardening practices and plant collections.

The building was constructed in 1835 as part of the extensive chateau estate management. Its original purpose was to create ideal conditions for overwintering the common fig – a warmth-loving plant requiring protection from the winter cold. Fifty years later, in 1887, the Fig House was modernized. It was equipped with a sliding roof, which could be moved along rails onto the slope behind the building during the summer months. This solution represents 19th-century industrial engineering – allowing the building to be ventilated in the warm months while providing careful protection for the plants during winter.

Over time, however, the building lost its original purpose. For many years, it served only as a warehouse and gradually fell into disrepair. Until recently, its future seemed uncertain, until the decision was made to restore it. In February 2024, after a two-year reconstruction, the Fig House was reopened. The restoration also meant a return to tradition – in 2023, fig saplings were brought from the Strahov Monastery in Prague and placed in the orangery, which is part of the grounds.

Today, the Fig House is dedicated to its original function: the overwintering of the common fig. This deciduous, warmth-loving plant is less demanding to care for than tropical species, yet it still requires protection during the cold season. Visitors can thus experience how historical gardening lives on – how ancient knowledge and modern care meet in a building that has existed for more than two and a half centuries.