zámek Svatý Hubert Hunting lodge

Welcome to Drahouši. You are standing in front of one of the most original corners of this country, which is the hunting lodge of Saint Hubert. The first impression of this building is very strange and charming. Look at the building in front of you and notice its unusual shape. It's not a classic rectangular house, which we're all curious about, but a building with an octagonal plan. This geometric purity combined with one floor gives the whole object lightness and a certain playfulness that is typical of this type of building.

Let us now stop at how this building was created and why it is standing here. Let us move in our minds to the beginning of the eighteenth century. At that time, the family of the Chudenians ruled here. It was they who decided to build the centre of their hunting grounds in St. Petersburg. At that time, hunting was one of the main activities of the nobles, not just as a way of obtaining food, but above all as a social event and expression of power. This small chateau was therefore not intended for permanent housing of whole families, but it served as a resting place, a gathering place for hunters and an administrative centre for the surrounding area, which originally spread around the building. So imagine this place in the time of its greatest glory, surrounded by dense forest and the sounds of the game, where society was gathering in its period clothing, ready to hunt.

Now pay attention to the architecture itself, which is performed in Baroque style. The Baroque loved dynamics and unusual shapes, which is what you see on the said octagonal. Please look up on the roof. Notice its specific shape, which we professionally call the bell roof. It is a shape that resembles a bell and elegantly closes the whole building. The top of the whole building is a lantern, a small extension at the very top of the roof, which complements the overall balance of the building. Even though the authors of this project are unknown, their work shows high craftsmanship. Notice how harmonically each side of the building fits together. The facade you see today went through nine hundred and seventy-five reconstruction in the year to remain in good condition, as well as the roof itself.

If you look at the building like that, you might wonder who was here besides the hunters. This place also has a deep connection with Czech culture and literature. Between the years eight hundred seventy-two and a thousand eight hundred seventy-five spent time here Jaroslav Vrchlický. The famous poet stayed here during his visits to his parents in the nearby Clear. Imagine him in the silence of this neighborhood, perhaps in one of these rooms or in the surrounding nature, looking for inspiration and writing his poems. It is fascinating to think that the walls of this hunting grounds were witnessed by the birth of some of his poetic works. Vrchlický brought a different energy to this place than the hunters who sought victory over the animals here, he sought the beauty of the word and peace for his creation.

Now, I want to take you to one of the really interesting little things that is going on with the lantern we were looking at earlier. The lantern may seem to serve only as an ornament or for better ventilation, but in the past it had a much more practical function. There was a rudder on the lantern. But it was no ordinary flag. This rudder was designed to determine the direction of the game's movements. Hunters could see where the animals were going from a distance, so they could better plan their progress in the field. It is a fascinating example of how architecture was linked at the time to the specific functions and needs of people who worked and lived in the place.

But the history of the building wasn't just about hunting and poetry. In the year nine hundred forty-five the castle was nationalized, which meant that it stopped being privately owned and went under state control. This was a time of great change that affected many similar monuments throughout the country. Fortunately, however, the building has been preserved. In the year nine hundred and sixty-five, the building was officially declared a cultural monument, which gave it legal protection and recognition of its historical and architectural value. This allows us to stand before this building today and admire its beauty. At present, the castle is no longer a hunting centre or a state office, but it serves for recreation, which is probably the best way to use this space nowadays. Instead of the tension of hunting here, one can now find peace and rest.

Now, when you look around, feel the atmosphere of this place. Even though the original industry in its full size no longer exists, you still feel the proximity of nature and history. The contrast between the Baroque elegance of the octagonal house and the wilderness of the surrounding region creates a unique feeling. It is a place where human ambition meets to build something beautiful and functional with the natural rhythm of the forest.

I suggest you now slowly bypass the entire building. Try looking at it from different angles to fully appreciate the octagonal shape. Watch how the view of the building changes, how the shadow breaks on its edges and how the bell roof in the landscape dominates. Note the details of the facade and think about how many generations of people have passed through here, from the nobles of the Black family to the poet Vrchlický to today's visitors.

Saint Hubert, whose name bears this castle, is the patron saint of the hunters, and it is this spirit of protection and respect for nature that still persists. I hope this short trip to history has helped you better understand why this small structure is so important. It is a small piece of the baroque world that has survived for centuries and today tells us stories about hunting, poetry and architecture.

That concludes our description of St. Hubert's hunting lodge. It's up to you now. Take a walk around, take a breath with clean air in Drahouši and enjoy the silence of this historic place. If you are interested in this monument, I recommend continuing to explore the surrounding landscape, which certainly hides other secrets. Thank you for your attention and we wish you a pleasant rest of the day when you discover the beauty of our country.