The repairs of the buildings in the Karlova Koruna castle complex are halfway done

Chlumec nad Cidlinou - The renovation of the dilapidated listed buildings in the Karlova Koruna castle complex in Chlumec nad Cidlinou, costing nearly 100 million crowns, is two-thirds complete. Construction work began in the spring of 2019 and occupancy is expected in the summer of 2023. The repairs will fundamentally change the appearance and functioning of the castle complex, said the curator Lukáš Klečal today to ČTK. They do not involve the castle itself. The owner of the Karlova Koruna castle in Chlumec, including related buildings and the grounds, is the Kinský dal Borgo family.

"The total budget for the project is more than 98.2 million crowns. However, it is already clear that the total costs will be higher regardless of the subsidies. The project is being continuously improved to serve its purpose meaningfully," said Martina Kubešová, the director of cultural monuments for Kinský dal Borgo, who also manages the Kost castle in the Jičín region. The amount of EU subsidies is 83.5 million crowns.

During the preparation of the project documentation, the owners had architectural historical surveys conducted for all buildings, ensuring that the appearance of all buildings remains original. The renovation project concerns the riding school, stables, carriage house, and the so-called Red House. "A new tour route focusing on the breeding of Kinský horses will be created for visitors. Thanks to the project, a new information center for visitors will also be established," Klečal stated.

After the completion of the work, buildings that have not yet been included in the tour routes will also be accessible.

In the summer of 2023, occupancy of the renovated spaces is expected. "And an ordinary visitor will thus enter buildings that have never been publicly accessible in modern history. Unique and original buildings, such as the riding school with stables, will present the most significant topics from the history and present of the Kinský dal Borgo family. The riding school will also newly serve as a social hall for cultural events," Klečal added.

The lower floor of the carriage house, which is fully renovated, will be designated for the economic purposes of the castle complex. Historical carriages from the Kinský family’s collection will be displayed on the upper floor. "The other buildings mostly already have repaired facades, and work is ongoing inside," Klečal told ČTK.

In the house by the entrance Red Gate, there will be a new ticket office, the main entrance for visitors to the castle. "A new gallery dedicated to the modern history of the castle and a shop selling original souvenirs or products from the Kinský dal Borgo estate will be available there," Klečal stated.

The Karlova Koruna castle, designed by architect Jan Blažej Santini-Aichel and František Maxmilián Kaňka, is located in the western part of the town and is among the most significant Baroque buildings in the Czech Republic. The Kinský family acquired it in the early 17th century; it was damaged by a fire in 1943, nationalized by the state five years later, and was opened to the public after renovation in 1969. The state returned it to the Kinský family in 1992.