The Karlova Koruna Château

For more than 300 years Karlova Koruna Château has been a dominant feature of the town of Chlumec nad Cidlinou, located approximately 30 kilometres from Hradec Králové. The first written mention of the aristocratic residence dates back to 1424. At the beginning of the 17th century the fortress, and the entire estate, became the property of the Kinský family. When František Ferdinand Kinský inherited the estate, he began to think about building a new château that would express the status of the family. The architect Jan Blažej Santini-Aichel and builder František Maxmilián Kaňka came together to realise the project. The construction took place between 1721 and 1723. In honour of the visit of Emperor Charles VI, the new château was named Karlova Koruna. The Kinský family owned the property until 1948 when it was nationalised. Their ownership was reinstated in 1992 when the family was able to start developing its property. The château can be visited with a guide during guided tours. The grounds of the château’s riding hall, stables and coach house are open year-round with a valid ticket, but the exhibition is not accompanied by a guide. The château park, which is open year-round and free of charge, is accessible with the interactive children’s game, Walk Around the Crown.