Karlova Koruna
A chateau built on a three-armed plan around a central cylinder, so it reads as a crown from above.
Updated 21 October 2026
Karlova Koruna was built between 1721 and 1723 for Frantisek Ferdinand Kinsky to designs by Jan Blazej Santini-Aichel and executed by Frantisek Maxmilian Kanka, and its plan is a geometrical exercise of the kind Santini liked: a central cylinder containing a tall oval hall, with three wings radiating from it at equal angles, set on a low hill so the mass reads as a crown - the house was finished in time for the coronation of Charles VI in Prague in 1723, and Kinsky invited the king and named it after him. The central hall rises the full height of the building with a gallery and a dome. The Kinsky family held it until 1948 and again since 1992, and the interiors show family portraits, hunting material and an exhibition on the Kinsky horse, the pale-gold breed developed on these estates. The park around is English landscape with old trees.
History
A stronghold stood in Chlumec nad Cidlinou first: it is first recorded in 1424, when the warrior Boček of Poděbrady took it, and a new Renaissance fortification was built at the beginning of the 16th century. The Kinský family acquired the property at the beginning of the 17th century, and Count František Ferdinand Kinský (1668-1741), High Chancellor of the Kingdom of Bohemia, decided to build a pleasure house worthy of the family's standing. It was built in 1721-23, with Jan Blažej Santini-Aichel and František Maxmilián Kaňka engaged on the work, and finished in time for the coronation of Charles VI; the emperor visited Chlumec in September 1723 while returning from his coronation in Prague, and the house was named after him, Karlova Koruna meaning Charles' crown. As the family used it more, detached administrative and accommodation wings were added, along with the hippodrome in which peasants of the Chlumec uprising were held in 1775 (Wikipedia, Karlova Koruna Chateau).
What's there
- A three-armed crown plan - wings radiating at equal angles from a central cylinder.
- A full-height oval hall - rising through the building under a dome.
- Santini's geometry - the numerical and figural scheme behind the layout.
- The Kinsky horse - the pale-gold breed developed on the estate, exhibited here.
When to go
April to October. Half a day.
Good to know
Guided tours only, seasonal, closed in winter. It is small - the plan is the point rather than the number of rooms. The town is modest with limited food.
Nearby
Hradek u Nechanic is north-east; Hradec Kralove is beyond it.
Key facts
Source: Wikidata, item Q1701829, read on 18 October 2026.
What to pack for Karlova Koruna
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
- Comfortable walking shoes - Sightseeing means kilometres of pavement and cobbles daily. Find on Amazon
- A slim anti-theft daypack - Zips that close properly; keep it in front in crowds and on transit. Find on Amazon
- A refillable water bottle - Many cities have public fountains; save money and plastic. Find on Amazon
- A light layer + compact umbrella - For museum air-con and a sudden shower. Find on Amazon
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