Koukalův statek – hotel Selský dvůr Homestead

Welcome to Hostivaři. Stop for a moment, take a breath and look around you. You are standing right in front of a place that is a silent witness to the transformation of our city, to the Koukal farm, which we now know as the Selské Court Hotel. The first impression from this place is very strange, isn't it? It feels like you've found a piece of old country in the heart of the city district, an island of peace and history that has survived for centuries. Look at the overall form of the area. In front of you, the space that once served as the center of economic life is spread out, a place where work on the ground was intertwined with daily struggle for survival and the flourishing of rural wealth. Let us now return together in time, very deeply, to the sixteenth century. Imagine Hostivař at the time. It was not the space you know today, but rather a set of scattered settlements and fields. The first written mention of this estate dates back to 15 hundred and sixty-seven. We'll find it in the so-called grunt book, which was basically a record of land ownership and housing. It is this year that the farm is associated with the name Martina Hocha. Martin Hoch was the man who held this farm and cultivated the land at the time. It is fascinating to think that while we stand here today with modern technology in our ears, more than four styles ago Martin Hoch here planned his harvest and cared for his economy. This continuity, this constant transmission from generation to generation, is what makes this place a real treasure. Now pay attention to the construction itself. If you look at the exterior appearance of the buildings, you'll see that the farm doesn't have one single face, but it's the result of a long development. The original 16th century brought with it a basic structure, but what you see before you today is primarily the work of a later period. Notice harmony and balance in the building lines. This classical form of the complex, which is so dominant, comes from the turn of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Classicism tried to return to purity and order, which is also evident here. Take a look at the facade and feel the atmosphere of calm that this architecture radiates. Although we do not know the names of the particular architects who have proposed these modifications, their work carries the spirit of their time when rural settlements began to turn into representative houses that were intended to emit stability and prosperity. When we think about the fate of this place, we find that the road didn't just lead up. The history of the Koukal farm is full of takeoffs and falls. In nineteen hundred fifty-eight, the building was recognised as a cultural monument of the Czech Republic. This was a very important step, because the state admitted by this declaration that this building has an irreplaceable value for our National Grandpa ICT and that it must be protected for future generations. However, protection on paper is sometimes not enough to survive the building physically. Let's move forward in time to nineteen hundred and eighty-five. That was the time when the farm was in very bad shape. Imagine a sad sight of crumbling walls and abandoned spaces. The situation was so critical that unfortunately some parts were forgotten. In that year, an economic building had to be demolished, which was already in a dangerous state. It was a moment of deep sadness for all who valued the history of Hostivař, because with this building part of the original character of the entire court disappeared. The farm seemed to lose its original face forever. But the story of the Court of Selah does not end here. That is where the greatest power of historical monuments lies - in their ability to be reborn. Years of anticipation and preparation followed by extensive reconstruction. It was a challenging job in which to preserve the maximum original character and at the same time to give new life and modern use. This great recovery was completed in two thousand and five. It was then that the operation of the hotel started, which now hosts visitors from around the world. It's a beautiful example of how an old country estate can transform into a place of hospitality without losing its soul. Now, if you look around, try to imagine how the sounds that have been heard have changed over the centuries. From the rustling of horses and the screaming of birds in the sixteenth century, to the silence of the classical mansion, to today's fine noise of the modern city. One of the interesting things that may interest you is that the roots of this place are so deep that they become a bridge between the old agricultural Hostivař and today's Prague. The interior of the ground floor has until today preserved elements that resemble the original destination of the building, making them silent witnesses to the past. So you're standing in front of a building that survived wars, changes in regimes, and periods of deep demise. From Martin Hoch in the year fifteen hundred sixty-seven to today's guests who spend their free time here, Koukal's farm is a symbol of endurance. It's a place where history meets the present and where every brick tells its own little story about the people who lived here, worked and dreamed. Now that you know the story of this place, I suggest you look at the surrounding space in peace. Feel the contrast between historical walls and the surrounding environment. If you have the chance, walk around the premises and consider how you feel about this transformation from the estate to the hotel. It's a fascinating example of how we can honor the past and integrate it into modern life. Thank you for accompanying me on this short journey through time. I hope this interpretation helped you see more than just a beautiful building in the Koukal estate, but a real living organism that breathes through history. I wish you the rest of the day in Hostivaři and enjoy further exploring the secrets of our city. Goodbye.