Hořín

Originally, there was a hunting lodge in Hořín, which was built by Count Heřman Jakub Černín. The design was developed by Giovanni Battista Alliprandi, architecturally designed in the Baroque style and the interior was decorated with paintings by F. M. Schiffer.

The next owner of the chateau in Hořín, František Josef Černín, was more demanding of his living and the current hunting lodge definitely did not meet its criteria. Therefore, he had the chateau rebuilt according to a project developed by František Maxmilián Kaňka, into a representative Baroque residence. This reconstruction took place between 1713 and 1720.

After František Josef Černín died, the widow Marie Isabela married his brother František Antonín. However, the existing building did not suit him either, so the Hořín chateau had further building modifications, especially its expansion. In 1739, at the time of the reconstruction, František Antonín also died. In his last will, however, it was stated that the construction work on the castle must be completed according to the original plan, while an explicit mention was made of the castle chapel of St. Jan Nepomucký. The architect of the reconstruction, Jan Christian Spannbrucker, also died in 1742, so he did not see the completion of this work either.

However, the construction work stopped only for a while, and in 1744 it was resumed. The Hořín chateau in the completed reconstruction then became the dowry of Marie Ludmila, the daughter of František Antonín Černín and Marie Isabela, and the wife of Prince August Antonín of Lobkovice. The castle in the Hořín family belonged to the Lobkovices until 1948.

Further building modifications at the chateau in Hořín took place at the end of the 18th century, however, they were not particularly important for the overall appearance of the chateau, which combines Baroque and Rococo elements. The local "Stone Rooms" is one of the most mature Rococo spaces in Bohemia.

The current state of the chateau in Hořín in no way meets the criteria that would allow it to be opened to the public. Almost nothing of the original castle furniture has survived to this day, but at least the exterior and the castle park are definitely worth a visit.

Author: Andrea Štyndlová