Zámeček Pohansko Hunting lodge

Welcome to South Moravia near the city of Břeclav. Right now, you're standing in front of one of the most charming places in the entire Lednice-Valtice complex. The castle of Pohansko stands before you. At first you may be interested in his calm elegance and harmony with which he fits into the surrounding countryside. It's a building that doesn't seem overwhelming, but rather noble and balanced. Stop for a moment, take a breath, and just keep your eyes on the atmosphere of this place until we go deeper into its history together.

If you look at this structure, you might feel that it was standing here from the beginning, but its history in this form begins at the beginning of the nineteenth century. Exactly in the year of tyre eight hundred one was given the start of construction, which was ordered by Prince John the first of Liechtenstein. Why build such a beautiful object here? The answer is simple and very specific. This castle was not a gedacht as the main family home where the prince would spend every day of his life, but as a hunting lodge. At that time the hunter was a symbol of status, place of rest and social gatherings in nature. So imagine how carriages passed through here more than two styles ago, what hunting horns sounded like, and how the nobles gathered in these areas to celebrate successful hunting in the surrounding forests and lye.

Now, look closely at the architecture of the building itself with me. Notice its shape. The castle has a rectangular plan which gives it stability and clarity. The dominant is the central storey building, from which symmetrical ground lines extend to the sides. This symmetry is crucial for the style in which the castle was built, which is the so-called empirical style, responsible for a wider stream of classicism. Everything is balanced here, nothing is unnecessarily ordered.

Now look closer to the facade, the facade of the building. If you focus on the details, you'll see fine ornaments that tell the story of the location. Notice the reliefs, which are plastic ornaments scratched or slid into the surface of the wall. These reliefs represent the hunting scenes that lead us directly to the original function of the building. In addition to them, you will find circular medallions, which complement the overall aesthetic impression and give the building a touch of ancient nobility. The whole project was a work of talented architects named Josef Hardtmuth and Josef Kornhäusel who were able to combine the practical function of a hunting house with a high art standard.

When we think about the people who were connected to this place, we have to go back to that Prince John, the first of Liechtenstein. It was a man with a vision who wanted to create a unique landscape in this region where nature intertwined with human architecture. Other personalities, such as Josef Klieber, worked with him. Imagine the discussions between them when they planned to deploy buildings and roads in this area. Every stone and every line has been carefully thought out to express power, but also respect for the surrounding environment.

Now let's get to something that might be a surprise to you. Although you see a beautiful empirical castle in front of you, the secrets of this place go much deeper until no princes from Liechtenstein have ever been here before. It means that there is a history beneath the ground and around the building that is much older than the house itself. That is why, since the year one thousand nine hundred ninety-eight, there has been an archaeological exhibition.

Try to imagine that beneath your feet were the remains of Slavic Castle. It is this fort, which is called Pohansko, that is the main reason why this place is so special. Archaeologists have found valuable findings here that tell us about the people who lived here centuries ago, their craft, their faith and their everyday life. It's fascinating that in one place there are such different periods. On the surface we see the elegance of the nineteenth century, while within us lies a journey into the deep past of our ancestors.

If you are interested in a modern approach to history, you will appreciate that this exposure is not static. In the year two thousand twenty-three, the exhibition had undergone a major renewal. It was supplemented by multimedia elements, which means that history is not just about silent objects behind glass, but about an interactive experience. Thanks to these innovations, you can understand more deeply what the castle looked like and what important roles it played in the region.

You are therefore standing in front of a building which is protected as a cultural monument and which carries two faces. One face is the external, representative, hunting and aristocratic. The second face is the inner, scientific and mysterious one that follows us through the world of archeology. It's a place where the luxury of princes meets the stillness of early Slavic settlements.

Now that you know the basic story of this house, I suggest you move on slowly. Look around, see the symmetry of the facade and try to imagine the people who walked here two years ago. And if you have the chance, enter and be guided by the world of archaeological finds. Discover for yourself the secrets of Slavic Castle and look at the modern way in which history is presented here.

Thank you for your attention. I wish you a pleasant rest of the visit in this wonderful area and hope that the castle Pohansko has enchanted you with its atmosphere and stories. Enjoy your time and explore everything this place offers. Goodbye.