Vjezdová brána usedlosti čp. 1 Gate

Vjezdová brána usedlosti čp. 1 in the village Kratonohy, the district of Hradec Králové, is a top example of Baroque architecture from 1720. This brick building represents the only preserved part of the former Count's residence and is protected as a cultural monument of the Czech Republic.

The building was built on the order of Václav Norbert Kinski, who instead of the original fortress built the Count's court with a castle. Probably the design of the entire complex, including today's gate, comes from architect Jan Blazej Santini-Aichel or his pupils. The gate was built during the flowering of Baroque style in Bohemia, when the locks and churches were intensively built.

The gate has a semi-circle arched entrance with side columns, which have a graduated plinth, a profiled ledge head and a rectangular two-step field. Above the arch there is a jeweler with a plastic mascaron. The columns go into complex bunched pilasters with carved stone feet and smooth Roman heads.

On the head of the pilasters sits a narrow lay that continues over the vault. Above the pilastries is located smooth lay with the ledge which copy the shape of pilastres. The Segment ledge closes the whole set and has slightly reinforced limbs on which are placed vases with flowers on prism bases. Between the paving and the ledge there is a roll-out cartouche with the coat of arms of the Kinsky burrows.

While the gate preserved its historical significance, the castle was demoted in the second half of the 20th century. At this time, the building was used as an office of a single agricultural cooperative and lost its original value after inprofessional modifications.

In 2014 the gate was renovated. Today it is the only monument important element of the original site and is written in the catalogue of monuments of the National Monument Institute under the number ÚSCP 25040 / 6-634.

This gate is a valuable witness to baroque architecture and a reminder of the desolate Earl's mansion. Its detailed implementation makes it an important point for anyone interested in the history of the region.