hostinec U Zlatého slunce Inn

The inn U Zlatý sun, no. 26, is a Baroque building located in the central historical part of the village Kuks in Trutnov district in Králové Hradec county. It was built in 1699 as part of an extensive spa complex set up by Count František Antonín Špork and is an important part of the Kuks Heritage Reserve. The building is characterized by its history associated with the flowering of the spa and the closeness of the sculptures of Matthias Bernard Braun.

The history of the Kuks site, formerly known as Kukus or Kux, is related to the gold paddy in river sediments. Count František Antonín Špork began construction of Bad Kukus spa in 1692 after the discovery of healing springs in the slope above the river. The main phase of the construction followed the extraction of the water into the stone tank and the position of the chapel of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary. In 1694, the Count had a document from the professors of Prague University and his doctor J. F. Löwa confirming the medicinal properties of local water. The Golden Sun Inn was built in 1699 as part of this ambitious spa centre, which later became an important European meeting place for politicians, scientists and artists.

The building of the inn is baroque, storey with a rectangular plan. It was built in parallel with the terrace on the slope above the Elbe River and has a saddle roof, which originally contained a smaller turret. The south facade, heading for the valley, has 11 window axes. The main entrance leads through a stone staircase equipped with railing and decorative pillars. The inner rooms include a cellar with a cross and a valented vault, a glass vestibule with a flat vault and other rooms on the ground floor and on the floor with flat ceilings. The building is connected to the newer ports of 1911 and 1930s, which served the school.

After the death of Count Šporka in 1738 and the devastating flood in 1740, the spa began to fall. While the castle was demolished in 1901, the inn survived. In 1874, the owner of the estate, Count Moritz Sweerts-Sporck, left him to establish a general school. The building served as a school until 1997, when it was cancelled and subsequently turned into a inn again.

There are two Baroque statues from Matyas Bernard Braun: David with slingshot and monumental Goliath. This statue has an unusual origin. In 1720-1721, the character of Herkomman, called Zhokomal, was built here, representing dishonest lawyers. The statue held an apple with the Latin inscription "IURE ERUI," which provoked protests by the Church and authorities in Vienna. In 1729, Count Špork had to retreat and have the statue transformed into Goliath, which instead holds the shield. The inn itself was then referred to as Herkomman's inn and its interior had to be cleaned of inappropriate inscriptions. In the vicinity of the inn there was also a wooden theatre, which was hosted by puppeteers and professional performances, with Kuk production having a significant influence on the development of the European theatre.

The Golden Sun Inn is now part of the Kuks Monument Reservation announced in 1971. The building serves as an inn again and represents one of the few preserved buildings of the original spa complex. The historical importance of this place and its connection with Baroque art make it an important goal for every interested person in the past. Visiting the inn offers a unique view of life in one of the most important spa centres of the Baroque era.