If you are visiting the Czech Republic, one of the best things to do on a hot summer day is to visit one of its castles and chateaus. Apart from the historical and aesthetic relevance of your visit, it is also a good place to cool down – even for a bit.
One of the interesting chateaus close to our area is Zámek Kačina. It was built as a representative seat by Count Jan Rudolf Chotek between 1806-1824. It was designed by a German architect from Dresden, C. F. Schuricht. Since then, it has undergone several renovations and was inhabited by the last Chotek heir in 1911. During the second world war, it was occupied by the Nazi SS units. In 1950, the building was converted as an agricultural museum. Finally in 2001, it was recognized by the government as a natural cultural monument.
To this day, the chateau serves several functions. One wing still serves as an agricultural museum, another serves as a museum to showcase the life of the royals who inhabited the area, and another wing has a more commercial function – catering to weddings and other social events.
On our visit, we wanted to see the exhibit of the life of the royals, but missed the tour schedule. Instead of waiting, we opted to visit the agricultural exhibit, since it was a self-guided tour.
My son was particularly interested in the miniature tractors and machine equipment, while my husband was equally interested in explaining everything to him.
Since it was a lifestyle tour, it also showcased the domestic tools that can be found in the households during those times.
Here you can see the first washing machine that they used.
Pretty innovative, I would say. There was also an option to visit the cellars.
During wintertime, little children were told to sleep on top of the ovens to keep them warm. Here is an example of those sleeping areas.
Anyway, I’m glad we opted to go to this tour since it was very educational and a bit different from the typical chateau tours that we normally go to.
Kačina is a beautiful place and since it is close to our area, there will be more opportunities for us to visit again and witness the other tours.
If you would like to know more about this beautiful place, you can visit their website. It is in the Kutna Hora area, so it can be a good side trip on your trip to Kutna Hora.
Czech the Flip 