Vlkov nad Lesy Hunting lodge

Welcome to Vlkov over the forest. Right now, when you're standing here, before this extraordinary construction, you might feel that time has stopped around you. In front of your eyes is a hunting lodge that is much more than just a building. He is a silent witness for many years who tells the story of nobility, nature and the birthplace that has changed over time with the outside world. Feel the atmosphere of calm radiating from its wooden walls and shingles surfaces. This object is not built of cold stone, as you might expect from the castle building, but its form is much closer to the woods surrounding it.

Now let's go back deeper into the past to understand how this place came to be. Imagine the second half of the eighteenth century. This was the time when new faces were formed in these regions and houses were built to reflect the position of their owners. Just then, for Francis Ferdinand II. Kinsky, this half-grazed building was built. The House of Kinski was extremely important in these times and their influence spread far beyond the borders of this village. This castle was not just a home, it was part of a wider world of noble traditions. There were events in his walls that shaped the fate of individual members of this powerful family.

Now pay close attention to the construction itself, which stands right in front of you. Look at the structure. It's a storey building that uses unique material connections. It's a so-called half-grafted building. This means that in her body you will find a combination of wood and other building elements, which creates a very specific and harmonious appearance. Note how these materials are supplemented. Now, try looking even more closely at the surface of the facade. See those tiny, overlapping wooden plates? It's a shindle. It is this shindle that surrounds the facades and gives the castle its unique character. Shindle is not just an aesthetic element, it is a protection that has protected the wood from the effects of weather for centuries. If you look closely at it, you can see in its structure the craftsmanship of people who fixed it up a long time ago. This wooden blanket creates on the facade a fascinating game of light and shadow that changes depending on how the sun shines through the trees.

When we talk about this place, we can't forget the people who left their trail. Names such as František Ferdinand II. Kinský or Josef Leopold Kinský are firmly linked to this place. You can imagine living in these spaces at the time of their greatest bloom. Later, Oktavián Kinský appeared in the history of this place, whose birth in a thousand eight hundred and thirteen was one of the important moments for the genus. Another major figure was Zdeňko Radslav Kinský. It was in the year one thousand eight hundred ninety-five that he took over the manor in Chlumci and decided to make a fundamental change. Under his hands, the castle began to turn into hunting ground. This modification meant that the building stopped serving primarily as a residence and became the heart of hunting activities, which perfectly matched its wooden form and location at the edge of the village.

Now I want to invite you to think about something that makes this object really special. You see, most of the castle buildings in Czech countries are made of stone or bricks. These are massive, stationary monuments. But now you're standing in front of one of the few wooden castle buildings we've managed to preserve. There's something mysterious and fragile about it. How is it possible that wood, so predisposed to time and elements, could survive centuries and stay so beautiful? It is a combination of excellent craft, the right choice of material and also happiness. This castle is like a rare piece of history that reminds us that even wood can have royal dignity.

The history of this place was constantly spinning. After a thousand and nine hundred and forty-five, he passed over the property to the state, which meant a new era for the building. In the late 1970s she then went through another treatment to serve as a recreational facility. Yet, despite these changes in purpose, the building has preserved its soul. Since a thousand and nine hundred and sixty-five, it has been protected as a cultural monument, which gives us the assurance that this unique element of our landscape will be preserved for future generations.

Now that you know the story that's hidden in these walls, I suggest you continue your search. Walk around, see how the view of shingles changes depending on the angle you're looking at. Feel the peace and quiet this place offers. Let yourself be carried away by the atmosphere of an historic place that is not just a dead object but a living witness to human life and the pursuit of beauty. Thank you for spending your time right here at this hunting lodge in Vlkov nad Forests. We wish you a nice walk and another interesting discovery of the surroundings. Goodbye.