Vila Rusalka Villa

Vila Rusalka in the village Vysoká u Příbramě in the Central Bohemian Region served as a summer residence of composer Antonín Dvořák. The building is protected as a cultural monument. A number of world-famous musical works were created here.

Antonín Dvořák visited the castle area in Vysoká near Pribrama since 1880. Thanks to his brother-in-law, Count Václav Robert from Kounice, he stayed here in a house called the Court. In 1884 he purchased from him for 2000 gold coins an abandoned shouchar and a sheepskin with an surrounding plot on the northwest edge of the village. There was a major reconstruction on the house. The construction was managed by Jan Hertan and August Bohdanecký, Director of Schwarzenberg Manor in Rakovice near Čimelice. The composer supervised the house and garden reconstruction personally. The family stayed here for the first time from May to September 1885.

Dvořák's study was located on the first floor. It had a view of the surrounding forests, meadows, fields, the village of Trebsko and, in good visibility, the Šumava Boubín. The rest of the house was inhabited by a family in three rooms. Later, thanks to the extension with the kitchen, it expanded them by two more. Instead of the original sheep house with a barn, a house was built for the manager Jan Hodík. In the absence of owners, he took care of the premises and twenty pairs of Dvořák pigeons. The garden was divided into a productive and decorative part with precious trees and wooden gazebo with oak table and three benches. The whole area is bounded by a stone, partially wired wall with two gates with pillars. Around 1908, the villa was sectored. From 2010 to 2016, the facade was repaired from benefits from the benefit concerts.

Every year, the family remained here for five months from spring to autumn. The exception was 1893 when Dvořák stayed in America and spent the summer in Spillville. The composer's daily regime started around 4:00 a.m. by walking or Mass in Treb, where he sometimes played the organ. In the morning and in the afternoon he dedicated composing. He alternated with walks with children, taking care of pigeons or visits to the Kounics. He spent his evenings in a local pub among miners by beer and cards, where he told about his travels. In the garden gazebo he liked to create and receive music visits.

There were a number of flagship works in the villa. These include Symphony Nos 7 and 8, Requiem, the second row of Slavic dances, Piano Quintet A major, Piano Quartet Es major and the opera Rusalka, Dimitri, Jacobin, Cert and Kacha or unfinished Armida. Dvořák also played the organ in Bohtěn and Třebsk. In 1894 he gave the church a new instrument, which however destroyed the fire in 1953.

The memorial plate was placed on the house by composer Josef Suk, son-in-law of Antonín Dvořák. In the 1950s, a bust was added from the sculptor Henry Ríha. The name of the Rusalka building was given to the descendants in whose property the complex remained. The villa is not normally accessible; entry is only possible exceptionally. Until 2017, visitors were linked by the grandson of the composer, Antonín Dvořák III. In some years, the villa was opened to participants in the long-distance march Za Dvořák to Vysoká, which takes place on 1 May each year.

Vila Rusalka remains a silent witness to the creative process of one of the most important Czech composers. Her visit resembles a deep bond between Dvořák's music and the Czech landscape.