Rendez-vous

Rendez-vous is one of the most distinctive structures within the Lednice–Valtice Cultural Landscape, a UNESCO World Heritage site. The building stands hidden in the forest between Valtice and Břeclav, at a spot that originally served as the gathering point before the grand hunts of the Liechtenstein princes — which is exactly where its French name, meaning "meeting point," comes from.

When was Rendez-vous built?

The pavilion was erected between 1812 and 1813, during a period when the Liechtenstein estate was being enriched with a series of ornamental follies scattered across the grounds. Rendez-vous belongs to the same family of structures as the nearby Colonnade in Valtice or the Minaret in Lednice — buildings meant to underline the family's prestige while creating picturesque viewpoints and resting places during hunting expeditions.

Why is it also called the Temple of Diana?

The building carries a second name, the Temple of Diana, referring to the Roman goddess of the hunt. Its facade bears Latin inscriptions dedicated to Diana, making the original purpose of the site unmistakable: this was the starting point of the great hunts and drives organized by the princely court. Hunting symbolism runs through the entire concept of the building — from its dedication, through its decorative details, to its very location deep within the forest.

What architectural form does Rendez-vous take?

Rendez-vous was designed in the shape of a triumphal arch — a triangular hunting lodge with elegant proportions that combines the monumentality of classical models with the practical function of a building meant for hunting parties. Inside were rooms intended for social gatherings and breakfasts following the hunt, reflecting the era's custom of pairing hunting expeditions with feasting in the open air.

The building's style fits into the broader fashion for architectural follies, popular throughout the 18th and early 19th centuries in English landscape parks. The Liechtensteins drew direct inspiration from English landscape gardens, where small decorative or representative structures — temples, towers, artificial ruins — were scattered across the grounds. Rendez-vous is one of the most striking examples of this type of architecture found anywhere in the modern-day Czech Republic.

How does Rendez-vous fit into the wider Lednice–Valtice complex?

The Lednice–Valtice Cultural Landscape is one of the largest designed cultural landscapes in Europe — a vast area between the Lednice and Valtice chateaux, shaped over centuries into a harmonious composition of parks, avenues, canals and ornamental buildings. Rendez-vous, tucked away in the forest far from the main tourist routes, is one of the more secluded and therefore more atmospheric points within this composition. Visitors typically reach it during longer walking or cycling trips through the surrounding woods, making it a reward for those willing to venture beyond the well-trodden path between the two main chateaux.

What should you know before visiting?

Rendez-vous stands in the forest along the route between Valtice and Břeclav, at the heart of an area protected as part of the UNESCO heritage site. The building is still occasionally used for special occasions today, including celebrations — proof that, more than two centuries after it was built, it continues to serve as a meeting place, just as its creators intended.

Frequently asked questions

What does the name Rendez-vous mean? It is French for "meeting point" — here referring to the gathering spot before the Liechtenstein princes' grand hunts.

Why is the building also known as the Temple of Diana? Because of the Latin inscriptions dedicated to the Roman goddess of the hunt, carved into its facade.

When was Rendez-vous built? Between 1812 and 1813, as part of the broader expansion of the Liechtenstein estate with ornamental park buildings.

What architectural style does it represent? It takes the form of a triumphal arch, fitting into the fashion for architectural follies inspired by English landscape gardens.