Kratochvíle, Renaissance château in Petrův Dvůr, Czech Republic
Kratochvíle is a Renaissance hunting lodge with symmetrical layout and central hall built on swampy ground. The building is surrounded by a water moat and historical gardens that extend across the terrain.
A Bohemian nobleman began construction in 1583 and created by 1589 an Italian hunting house on the ruins of a medieval fortress. The transformation shows the shift from fortified strength to Renaissance elegance in the region.
The two Gold Halls display wall paintings and canvases created by Renaissance masters. Visitors can admire there the artistic works that define the interior character of the residence.
The grounds can be visited with guided tours through several rooms, the chapel, and the gardens. Visitors should expect uneven terrain since the site was built on swampy ground.
Thick oak and alder posts of about 10 meters long form a stable foundation beneath the entire structure. This pile foundation was necessary to hold the building on the unstable swampy soil.
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