Palacio de Karlova Koruna

Palacio de Karlova Koruna

Karlova Koruna: la joya barroca de Santini

Durante la visita a los interiores del palacio barroco de Karlova Koruna conocerá la historia de la estirpe de los Kinský y de la cría de caballos. Fratišek Ferdinand Kinský mandó construir esta residencia según un proyecto del arquitecto Giovanni Santini para que sirviera como punto de partida de los eventos de caza con caballos y jaurías. De ahí que no le sorprenderán la impresionante colección de trofeos de caza situada en el salón. ¿Imagina las razones de por qué el palacio se llama Karlova Koruna, es decir, Corona de Carlos? Si ha pensado en el emperador Carlos IV, va por buen camino. Averigua aun más recorriendo la visita guiada del palacio. No le defraudará, como no lo ha hecho con las numerosas bodas civiles y religiosas que ha albergado o los diferentes eventos que ha organizado.
The Karlova Koruna Chateau in Central Bohemia near Kutný Hora was built by Count František Ferdinand Kinský, the head chancellor, or prime minister, and the head huntsman of the Czech Kingdom, as his summer representative seat in 1721-1723.  

The unusual name of the representative seat of the Kinský family – Karlova koruna (Charles Crown) – is based on the ground plan of the building that resembles a king’s crown. And why Charles? To honour a visit by Emperor Charles VI.

Unique architecture

Baroque architect Jan Santini Aichel prepared the plans of the chateau and the construction was then managed by another famous Baroque builder, F. M. Kaňka. Aichel designed a lot of Baroque churches, chateaus and monasteries in the Czech lands. For example, he designed the reconstruction of the and the church in Žďár nad Sázavou, which is very unique and as such registered on the UNESCO list of world cultural heritage.

The architecture of the chateau in Chlumec nad Cidlinou is very unusual. It is a typical example of a building built along a radial centre. This system was brought to perfection by Santini when he built one of the churches, but here he applied it to the construction of a chateau. It was based on a circular plan that determines all ratios in the ground plan of the building. The construction is similar to the Church of St. Jan of Nepomuk in Zelená hora or the church in Křtiny. It is a very typical design for Santini. The Karlova Koruna chateau is unique because Santini applied procedures used for designing churches to a secular building. It makes the chateau unique in Europe.

The romantic rooms of the chateau create the perfect atmosphere for weddings and other ceremonies. The impressive dance hall with a unique round plan is ideal for wedding ceremonies. The chateau chapel located next to the chateau, however, is only for religious weddings.

Head huntsman of the Czech Kingdom

Chlumec and the Kinský family have been firmly adherent to the tradition of hunting par force and horse breeding. Hunting was one of the most popular entertainments of the nobility. The title of the head huntsman of the Czech Kingdom was very important as the bearer was responsible for the numbers of animals on royal estates and watched over the preparations of hunting par force with royal attendance. You can learn more about these tasks during a tour of the chateau.
Plasy Monastery