Šilboch Castle

Welcome to Libni, one of the oldest parts of Prague, where history intersects with the present in every step. Please stop right here. Now that your headphones are on, try to forget about the noise of the surrounding traffic and the modern face of the city. You are standing in a place that may look ordinary today, but one of the most significant social points in this area was once shining in the spiritual map of old Prague. In front of you is the space where the castle Šilboch once stood. Even if you don't see any walls, no columns, no windows, the atmosphere of this place requires a little imagination. Imagine going back in time two centuries, when this location was surrounded by greenery and peace, and in the center of attention was an elegant, one-story house that was the heart of a liberal social life.

Let us now move on to the mid-eighteenth century, namely the year of the tides of seven hundred fifty-seven. It is at this time that the story that defined this place begins. Originally there was an older estate, but ambition and taste at the time required something new and more representative. This is where František Ferdinand Hilbert entered history. He was a man who wanted to create space for relaxation and representation, so he had this little castle built in the old estate. Hilbert's intention was clear: to create a place that would combine the comfort of home with a noble nobility. It was a time when the Prague nobility and the rich township became more interested in the surroundings of the city walls and sought to escape from the noisy centre to quieter gardens and parks.

Now, if you look around you, try to reconstruct the architecture that stood here in your mind. It was not a huge palace, but rather a cozy, harmoniously balanced house. Notice in the idea of his plan, which was exactly square. This symmetry gave the construction a sense of stability and peace. The building had only one floor, which made it a place accessible and friendly. At that time, the most significant element to which you could point your eyes up was the needle roof. This was not only the practical conclusion of the construction, but it also carried an aesthetic element in the form of a small, charming turret, which stood out above the surrounding roofs and served as a landmark for all those who headed towards Šilboch. Don't forget the terrace, too. Imagine the guests sitting here in the summer evenings, seeing the smell of the surrounding gardens and watching the sunset over the liberal landscape. This terrace was the bridge between the inner luxury of the castle and the nature surrounding it.

Once we've clarified what Šilboch looked like, let's see who visited here and what stories were written in these walls. In the nineteenth century Šilboch became a real magnet for the Prague elite. It wasn't just a private home, it was a center of social life. Imagine elegant dresses, sounds of horses in the distance and expectations of upcoming parties. One of the most fascinating personalities involved in this place was Jan Karel Liebich. It was he who brought a tradition to Šilboch, which we now find absolutely natural, but in the year one thousand eight hundred and twelve it was absolutely new. On Christmas Eve that year, he prepared a decorated Christmas tree for his guests. At that time it was a custom brought from Germany, an exotic element which was not common in Prague. Imagine the amazement of the guests when they entered the room and saw a lit, decorated tree that brought magic and hope into the winter evening. Liebich thus made Šilboch a place where modern European culture met with local society.

But the cultural radiation of this place did not end with Christmas trees. Šilboch was the place where music sounded and dancing. In the year one thousand eight hundred and sixteen there was a carnival, which was one of the most important events of the season. For this occasion the composer Carl Maria von Weber was created here. He wrote a special waltz to accompany the joy and playfulness of carnival guests. Now try to picture in your mind the sound - the rhythm of the waltz, the laughter of people and the rustling of the dress in the ballroom. Šilboch was not just a building, it was a living organism full of emotion, art and social excitement. Later, however, times changed and the manor adapted to new needs. He stopped being exclusively the home of the elite and was modified to serve as an inn. This opened up Šilboch to the wider public, becoming a meeting place for ordinary people, where a glass of beer was discussed about politics, trade and everyday life in Libni.

Now I want to take you to a secret that's already in the name of this place. Where did the word Šilboch come from? It's a word that sounds a little unusual, almost like a code. But the truth is hidden in language playfulness and military history. The name was created by the assembly of the German word for the guard or the testicle. It all began in the year of seven hundred and fifty-seven, when the Prussians built a military cooking plant in Libni. According to legend, after the Prussian army's retreat, there was a forgotten or misguided Prussian soldier. This detail, this small human error or fateful coincidence, has entered the memory of the locals. The word for the guard gradually changed in the mouth of people, and it became the unique name Šilboch. It's fascinating how one garbled word can survive a century and become the name of an elegant castle.

Unfortunately, every story has its end, and it came for Šilboch at the turn of the century. In a thousand and nine hundred, at a time when Praha began to grow sharply and modernise, this monument was sacrificed to progress. The buildings were torn apart and the rock on which the castle stood. Everything we imagined together a moment ago - a headliner, a small turret, a terrace and a hall, where the waltz of Carla Maria von Weber sounded - became dust and memories. Only the name remains in the historical records and in our imaginations.

Now, if you look around again, you may see only modern streets and buildings. But now you know that beneath the surface of this place sleeps the spirits of elegant carnival, the smell of the first Christmas trees and echoes of Prussian soldiers. Šilboch reminds us how fleeting architecture is, but how persistent are the stories that relate to it. It is a lesson about that the monument may not always be made of stone and bricks, but it may also exist in the form of stories that we pass on.

Thank you for stopping with me in time and trying to perceive the invisible contours of this extinct castle. I hope this short trip to history has helped you to see this place with different eyes. Now, let's invite you to further explore the area. Please continue your journey and look for more clues of the past that are hiding in Prague just around every corner. Goodbye and wish you a pleasant rest of the day.