If you like the idea of spending half a day away from the city and in nature while also visiting a few monuments, head over to the hunting chateau Kozel, which lies near the town of Šťáhlavy. While taking a tour of the chateau’s interior, you will get to witness period-furnished rooms as well as the in-house theatre. You can then finish off your tour with a pleasant walk around the adjacent chateau park.
Tour of the Chateau
Chateau Kozel is a classic hunting castle which was built during the 18th century by Jan Vojtěch Czernin (Černínové z Chudenic) of the Kingdom of Bohemia as his country house. While taking one of the chateau’s commentated tours, you will be able to view the original oak furniture, including the beautifully adorned tiled stove. The stove could be accessed from the outside, meaning the chateau’s personnel wouldn’t need to interrupt their lord when adding wood or fuel to the fire.
Not only will you visit the hunting hall, the blue lounge and bedroom, you will also get to see the original library with its precious tomes and the billiard room. The chateau theatre is a local rarity, which one of the chateau’s later owners had built for his children from what used to be the stables. A chapel, where weddings and concerts are held, can also be found within the chateau’s compound. Today, exhibitions are held in the former riding hall. This space also serves as the background for the graduation ceremonies of several West Bohemian university faculties.
Chateau park
It’s said that certain attributes of this 40-hectare chateau park remind visitors of Vienna’s Schönbrunn Palace. Whether that’s true or not, you can judge yourself. Either way there’s something new to see with every season. You can discover the park’s first blooming flowers in spring, admire the blossoming tulip trees in June and enjoy the warm autumn colours of the leaves before winter. You will also find a pond in the centre of the park, where you can rent a small boat and go for a ride.
