Tuchlov

Tuchlov is a small Empire-style hunting lodge in the municipality of Křemýž, in the Teplice District of the Ústí nad Labem Region in northern Czechia. The building stands beside the road connecting Teplice and Bílina, close to the point where the local road from Křemýž joins the main I/13 highway. Although the interior is closed to visitors, Tuchlov's history and architecture make it a worthwhile stop for anyone exploring the area around Teplice, particularly travelers interested in 19th-century noble residences.

What is Tuchlov?

Tuchlov is a two-story, rectangular Empire-style building constructed as a hunting lodge — a modest noble residence built for hunting parties and summer leisure rather than a fortified castle or grand palace. Two wings project from the main block at right angles, together enclosing a central courtyard. This layout was typical of Empire-period estates built by wealthy nobility around the turn of the 19th century.

What is the history behind the lodge?

The lodge was built in 1821 on the initiative of Count August Ledebour-Wicheln, a member of the well-known Bohemian noble family Ledebour-Wicheln. Tuchlov was not originally a standalone building: together with two pavilions, Belveder and Ladenburg, both since vanished, it formed a single Empire-era complex set within the surrounding landscape. At the time, the site was a popular destination for spa guests staying in nearby Teplice, one of the oldest and best-known spa towns in Czechia.

After 1918, following the collapse of the Austro-Hungarian monarchy and the resulting changes in property ownership, the building was leased to the Czech Abstinence Union of Prague, which turned it into a guesthouse. It was later converted into a children's home, a role it still fulfills today. The building underwent reconstruction in 2005, which preserved its historical character while adapting it to its current institutional use.

Can Tuchlov be visited?

No — the building is closed to the public. Since it currently operates as a children's home, there are no guided tours, open interiors, or public events on site. Visitors interested in the architecture can still see the lodge from the outside while driving along the road between Teplice and Bílina, near the junction with the I/13 highway.

What else is worth knowing about the area?

Tuchlov's proximity to Teplice makes it a convenient reference point for travelers exploring the foothills of the Ore Mountains (Krušné hory). Křemýž itself, the small rural municipality where the lodge stands, is chiefly notable for this historic building and its convenient location on the I/13 route.

Frequently asked questions

What was Tuchlov before it became a children's home? It was a summer hunting residence of the Ledebour-Wicheln family, part of a larger Empire-style complex with the Belveder and Ladenburg pavilions, once visited by spa guests from Teplice.

Who built Tuchlov? Count August Ledebour-Wicheln, in 1821.

What architectural style is Tuchlov built in? The Empire style: a rectangular, two-story main building with two wings set at right angles around a courtyard.

Is the lodge open to tourists? No, because it currently houses an operating children's home.

Where exactly is Tuchlov located? In the municipality of Křemýž, Teplice District, beside the road between Teplice and Bílina, near the I/13 highway.