Kuks, Baroque hospital complex in Trutnov District, Czech Republic
Kuks is a Baroque hospital complex along the Elbe River, decorated with stone sculptures of virtues and vices carved by artist Matthias Braun. The site includes multiple buildings with a museum housing an original pharmacy and artworks from the period.
Count Franz Anton von Sporck built the complex between 1692 and 1696, channeling three natural mineral springs into one location. The site was designed to heal both the body and the spirit, reflecting Baroque values through its artistic decoration.
The site represents Baroque ideas about healing linked to virtue and vice, embodied in the stone figures scattered throughout the grounds. These sculptures still shape how visitors experience the place and reflect the moral values of that era.
The site opens from April through October with guided tours available in multiple languages. A dedicated parking area makes visiting by car straightforward.
The pharmacy rooms preserve their original 1743 Baroque interior with all vessels, boxes, and containers intact. These spaces offer a rare look at how medicines were actually made and stored centuries ago.
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