Lovecký zámeček Vlkov nad Lesy

Lovecký zámeček Vlkov nad Lesy is a small but architecturally distinctive hunting lodge standing at the edge of the village of Vlkov nad Lesy, part of the Běrunice municipality in the Nymburk district of eastern Bohemia. It is the only surviving half-timbered hunting lodge of its kind from the second half of the 18th century in the Czech Republic, making it a rare example of late Baroque rural residential architecture.

Who built it and why?

The lodge was commissioned by František Ferdinand II Kinský, who at the time owned the extensive Chlumec nad Cidlinou estate, of which Vlkov formed a part. The two-storey building was constructed in a half-timbered technique — a wooden frame filled with masonry — and topped with a mansard roof, originally covered in wooden shingles. The design combines the modest function of a hunting retreat with the refined proportions typical of aristocratic residences of the period.

What is its connection to the Kinský family?

The building is closely tied to the history of the Kinský family. Toward the end of the 18th century, Josef Leopold Kinský, son of the founder, stayed at the lodge, and in 1813 his son Oktavián Kinský was born there — a fact that ties the modest structure directly to a significant chapter of the family's history. In 1895, Oktavián transferred the main Chlumec estate to his nephew Zdeněk Radslav Kinský, and it was around this time that the building at Vlkov was converted into a dedicated hunting lodge, the role that gives it its present-day name.

What is the building used for today?

The lodge remained Kinský property until 1945, when it was nationalized. In the late 1970s, a local district service company converted it into a recreational facility, a function it still serves. Since 1965 it has been protected as a cultural monument. Today the building is privately owned and closed to the public — there is no exhibition or visitor route, and recreational use continues on the grounds.

How do you get there?

Vlkov nad Lesy lies in the quiet, agricultural Elbe lowlands (Polabí) of the Nymburk district in eastern Bohemia. The easiest way to reach the village is by car via the local road network connecting it to nearby towns; cycling is also a pleasant option, especially if you combine the visit with other castles and chateaux scattered across the Polabí region. Because the lodge is private property, visits are limited to viewing the exterior from the public road.

When is the best time to visit?

Spring and summer are ideal, when the surrounding fields and woodland greenery set off the white walls and dark timber framing of the façade. Autumn, with its typical Polabí colors, also makes for good photography of the exterior. In winter, some of the quieter regional roads can be harder to access.

Frequently asked questions

Can visitors go inside the lodge? No — the building is privately owned and not open to the public. It can only be viewed from the outside, from the public road.

Who built the Lovecký zámeček? It was commissioned by František Ferdinand II Kinský in the second half of the 18th century, owner of the Chlumec nad Cidlinou estate.

What makes this building unique compared to other castles in the region? It is the only surviving half-timbered hunting lodge of this type and period in the Czech Republic — a rare combination of wood-frame and masonry construction.

Is the lodge a protected monument? Yes, it has been protected as a cultural heritage monument since 1965.