Lovecký zámeček (Lednicko-valtický areál) Hunting lodge

Welcome to one of those quiet, yet very important pearls that decorate the Lednice-Valtice area. Stop for a moment, take a breath and look ahead. You're standing in front of the Hunting Castle. At first glance, you may be interested in its modest size compared to those magnificent palaces you may have seen elsewhere in the area, but it is in this little detail that its attraction lies. It's a building that doesn't pretend to be anything but what it really is, yet it emits an unrepeatable peace and elegance. Feel the atmosphere of this place, where human architecture combines itself with the natural beauty of the landscape.

Let us now look together at how this building was created and at what time it was born. It was created at the very beginning of the nineteenth century, namely in the year eight hundred and five. It was a very stormy time for the whole of Europe, because at that time, the wars of Naples, which transformed maps of states and changed the fate of millions of people. It was in this tension and uncertainty that the design signed by architect Josef Hardmuth was created. His vision was to create an object that was practical but at the same time aesthetically aligned with the surroundings. The construction was completed very quickly, as early as eight hundred and six years ago, and has since stood here as a witness to history.

Now, if you focus on the architecture itself, notice its style. The hunting lodge is drawn up in a spirit of classicism. What did it mean for that time? Classicism was a return to ancient values, order, balance and purity of lines. If you look at the facade and overall proportions of the building, you will see that there is nothing unnecessary. Everything is balanced and harmonious. It is a small structure which, however, seems noble in its simplicity. Notice how naturally it fits into the landscape. The architect Hardmuth didn't want the building to overpower the landscape, but to work with it.

It's important to understand why this castle was built in the first place. It was not just an ornamental element in the landscape, but a building with a very specific purpose. Originally she served as a grove, a place for a man who was responsible for the care of the forest and animals. An apartment was reserved in the building for a hunter who lived and worked here. But the Hunting Castle performed even more representative tasks. Thanks to his strategic position, he allowed the monarch, the noble families who owned this area, to follow the so-called parforums.

Maybe you haven't heard that expression, so I'll give you a little closer. Parfortic hunting was a very specific and challenging way of hunting, when animals were not expected in trenches, but were hunted by dogs and hunters on open terrain, in this case by nearby meadows, until completely exhausted. It was a theater full of emotion, speed and tension. And from this very spot, from the Hunting Castle, the observers could watch in peace and comfort where the hunting took place and where both the animals and the hunters were located.

When you imagine inner spaces that are now protected as a cultural monument of the Czech Republic, think about the salon. In the interior there is a space designed for refreshments of the hunting participants. Imagine the moments when hunters came back here after a long and hard day in the field, the smell of food and drink spread in the room, and talks about the success and failure of the novel today. It was a place of meeting, relaxation and social life within the aristocratic layer.

This object has undergone various changes in property over the years, reflecting the history of our entire state. After a year of nine hundred forty-five when World War II ended, the building was transferred to the administration of the Regional Centre of State Monument Care in Brno. The State has thus made sure that this valuable building is not abandoned and that its historical value is preserved for future generations. This was a period of state care that lasted several decades. Then, however, there was a break in the year of a thousand nine hundred and ninety, when the object was sold to a private owner. It is fascinating to see the fate of a small building change along with the country's political and social system.

Now if you look at the Hunting Castle again, try to realize the contrast. On the one hand, we have strict lines of classicism and on the other hand, the wild nature of the hunt and nature surrounding it. It is a place where the order is confronted with chaos, which is where the human need for control and observation has met the freedom of meadows. It's a little piece of history that tells us about how people lived two styles ago, what they thought was fun and how they perceived the beauty of architecture.

The interesting thing is that even though the construction is small, its importance throughout the Lednice-Valtice complex is great. It's proof that even functional buildings, like the grove, could be designed with high aesthetic demands. Josef Hardmuth has shown here that even for a common hunter a space can be created that has its dignity.

Now I'm going to let you take a closer look at the details of this building. Take a walk around it, feel the silence of the surroundings and try to imagine the sound of hooves and barking of dogs that were here centuries ago. Notice how light is reflected from the walls and how the building operates in different angles of view. It is an ideal place for a brief moment to think about how quickly time passes and how important it is to protect these little monuments, which are like silent witnesses to the past.

I hope you find your visit to the Hunting Castle interesting and that you felt the spirit of the time in which it originated. This complex has many other secrets and beautiful places that await your discovery. I ask you to continue to explore the surroundings, to see the harmony of the landscape and to look for other clues of history that are hidden in this area. I wish you a pleasant journey and remember to enjoy every moment you spend in this unique space. Goodbye.