Švýcárna

Švýcárna is a small but striking building right beside the castle park in Slatiňany, in the Pardubice Region of eastern Czechia. Its name literally means "the Swiss cottage," and behind that whimsical name hides an interactive museum devoted to the Old Kladruby Horse — a breed inscribed on the UNESCO list and closely tied both to the nearby stud farm at Kladruby nad Labem and to Slatiňany itself.

Where does the name Švýcárna come from?

The story of the building goes back to 1839, when a hunting lodge was built on the estate — a retreat where the local nobility could enjoy the untouched nature surrounding the castle. The real turning point came in 1847, when the estate's owner, Vincenc Karel of Auersperg, had the lodge rebuilt in the style of the mountain chalets he had seen in the Swiss Alps. The redesign is said to have been inspired by his own travels around Europe, where he encountered traditional alpine timber architecture. From that point on, the building took on its distinctive "Swiss" look and the name it still carries today.

What has Švýcárna been used for over the years?

For decades the building served as a residence. Its last permanent occupant, František Zeman, lived there until 1976. Once he moved out, the cottage did not stand empty for long — its picturesque setting and timber architecture soon attracted filmmakers. Švýcárna appeared as a filming location for the movie "Smrt v sedle" and the TV series "Dobrá Voda," both of which revolved around horses, fitting neatly with the equestrian character of the whole area.

The next major chapter began in the early 2000s. With support from European Union funding, the town of Slatiňany carried out a thorough reconstruction of the building, and the newly renovated site opened to visitors on 29 June 2012.

What can you see at Švýcárna today?

Today Švýcárna operates as an interactive museum dedicated to the Old Kladruby Horse, one of the oldest horse breeds in the world, bred for centuries to serve the imperial court and now recognized as part of UNESCO's intangible cultural heritage. The exhibition traces the history of the breed, presenting documents and memorabilia connected to its development and its deep ties to the region — both to the stud farm at Kladruby nad Labem and to the grounds around Slatiňany castle.

The museum is designed with young visitors very much in mind. Next to the building lies a large, fenced garden where children can inspect a real carriage, ride a horse-shaped swing, and try out obstacles built for hobby horsing — the popular pastime of "riding" a stick horse through a course. This family-friendly touch makes Švýcárna a natural stop for anyone visiting the castle and park in Slatiňany with children.

How do you get to Švýcárna?

The building sits just below the castle park in Slatiňany, tucked into the woodland on the site of the former deer enclosure. It fits naturally into a walk that also takes in the castle itself, the sprawling landscape park, and nearby viewpoints. A visit to Švýcárna makes a good complement to touring Slatiňany castle, which is famous in its own right for its long historical connection to horse breeding.

When is the best time to visit?

Like the surrounding castle park, Švýcárna looks its best from spring through early autumn, when the greenery of the woods and meadows sets off its alpine-style architecture especially well. This is also the most comfortable season for making use of the garden and the children's attractions next to the museum.

Frequently asked questions

What is Švýcárna in Slatiňany? It's a historic building styled after a Swiss mountain chalet, now home to an interactive museum of the Old Kladruby Horse, located right next to the castle park.

Where does the name Švýcárna come from? The name dates back to 1847, when estate owner Vincenc Karel of Auersperg had the former hunting lodge rebuilt to resemble the alpine chalets of Switzerland.

Is Švýcárna a good stop for families with children? Yes — the museum has a fenced garden with a carriage, a horse-shaped swing, and obstacles for hobby horsing.

Since when has the museum been open? The renovated museum, funded in part by the European Union, reopened to the public on 29 June 2012.