Ptačí hrádek Memorial

Welcome to the unique historical monument, which is Ptačí hrádek. Right now you are standing west of the State Castle and Český Krumlov Castle, you have put on headphones and you have a view of a remarkable object. Look around you and let the atmosphere of this place take hold. You see before you a structure that bears the features of a classical style, although it has never been completely completed. Look carefully at this work, whose creator was builder Jan Sallaba. Originally, this monument was supposed to be much more spectacular with an antiquated facade, but the time and intentions of the creators were set in a different direction, so today we have this torzoidal, yet extremely impressive memory of the past.

Let's move forward in time together and look at how and why this monument was actually created. The year is one thousand eighteen hundred and thirteen, and there is a huge break in European history. Allied troops are fighting a great battle at Leipzig against French ruler Napoleon Bonaparte. In this glorious and decisive battle, the allies celebrate a huge victory and the leader of the troops that led this battle to triumph, the Field Marshal Karel I. Filip ze Schwarzenbergu stood up. It was in his honor and to celebrate this great military success that a few years later, namely in the year one thousand eighteen hundred and sixteen, it was decided to build this monument. The Schwarzenberg family so wanted to honor the heroism of its famous ancestor and commemorate a significant historic moment.

Now pay attention to the architecture itself and to the details that are in your eye right now. Ptačí hrádek is an unfinished Classicist monument, which in itself gives the whole building a special charm. Take a look at the anti-countering facade, which according to the original plans was to impress every visitor with its monumentality. Although the construction remains unfinished, its classical shapes are still well visible and show what care and what art the builders put into the celebration of their winners. Feel the line of construction, its setting in the landscape west of Krumlov Castle and imagine what the place looked like when workers under the direction of Jan Sallaba first put their hands to work.

When we dive deeper into the stories associated with this place, great figures of Czech and European history appear before us. The main character is, of course, Karel I. Filip ze Schwarzenbergu, a general of great format, a diplomat and a man whose name was of great importance in the world at the time. Leading troops in the Battle of Leipzig was a task that required not only courage, but also a great strategic overview. Schwarzenberg performed this task and became a symbol of resistance to tyranny. Later, other members of this important family, such as František Schwarzenberg, are bound to the history of this place. Every generation that returned to memory had to deal with her fate because the time tooth at the construction site had left its mark.

And here we come to the interesting and moving fate Ptačí hrádek has been through over the years. During the nineteenth century and at the very beginning of the twentieth century, the state began to decay. Therefore, in the year one thousand and nine hundred and four, the necessary building modifications had to be made to save what was left of the monument. For decades, the monument waited for its chance to be officially listed on the list of protected cultural monuments in the year one thousand and nine hundred and fifty-eight, which provided it with at least formal protection of the state. The big break occurred only recently, in the year one thousand nine hundred and ten, when Lenka Havlíčková became the new owner. She took a big step and started the rescue work. Thanks to her efforts, in the year one thousand nine hundred and fourteen, a complete reconstruction was completed, which gave back to Bird's Castle his dignity and preserved it for today's generations so that we could stand here together and admire him.

At the end of our meeting at this monument, I'd like to invite you to explore the area further. Although Ptačí hrádek is unfinished and closed in its rugged classical beauty, the landscape around Český Krumlov offers countless other paths and discoveries. I hope this audio guide has brought you closer to the story of the Battle of Leipzig, the glory of the Schwarzenberg family, and the modern rescue of this place. Thank you for your attention, enjoy the rest of your stay in this beautiful region and see you at other historic stops.