Kratochvile Chateau

Kratochvile - the name means pastime - was built between 1583 and 1589 for Vilem of Rozmberk by Baldassare Maggi as a summer villa in the Italian manner, and it is the purest example of that idea in the Czech lands: a small two-storey block standing in the middle of a walled and moated rectangular garden, with the service buildings, chapel and gatehouse arranged around the wall so the villa itself stands alone in the middle of the water. The interiors are covered in stucco relief by Antonio Melana, ceilings and friezes with hunting scenes, mythology, battles and animals, painted and gilded, and they survive largely as made. There is no later remodelling of substance. The chapel has painted decoration. The building was used for years as a museum of animated film, which has moved out, and the historic interiors are the visit again.

What you actually see

• An Italian villa in a moat - standing alone inside a walled rectangular garden.
• Stucco ceilings throughout - Melana's relief work with hunting and mythology.
• Original decoration - no substantial later remodelling to obscure it.
• A walled garden layout - service buildings and chapel set into the enclosure wall.

When to go

April to October. Half a day.

Honest expectations

Guided tours only, seasonal, closed in winter. It is small - a couple of hours. Photography inside is restricted. The village nearby has limited services.

Nearby

Netolice is two kilometres away; Hluboka chateau is east.