Slatinany – Castle, Garden and Stud Farm

Slatinany combines castle history and landscaped green spaces with other cultural and natural attractions. For your trip, consider the castle complex, the English park and the castle garden, as well as guided tours at the stud farm, an exhibition and trails around Chlum. The differences between these attractions can help you put your interests first when planning.

Castle History and Heritage Status

The Slatinany castle complex evolved from a Gothic fortress into a Renaissance castle and later a Baroque one. Since 2001, it has been a national cultural monument and is also part of the Slatiňansko–Slavicko Landscape Heritage Zone. This brings together two perspectives: the castle’s architectural development and its place within a landscape heritage zone. If you are interested in architecture, the progression from Gothic fortress to Renaissance and Baroque provides a thread through the complex’s history.

English Park and Castle Garden

The adjoining English castle park covers 16 hectares; Slatinany Castle Garden is smaller, at 9 hectares. The garden’s features include a collection of foreign trees and shrubs and flower beds, as well as a romantic pond, two garden pavilions and a chapel. There is also a children’s playground and small log cabins for the education of noble descendants. Comparing the sizes gives a concrete sense of the two named green spaces; the garden’s features range from trees and flowers to a pond, chapel and play area.

Slatinany Stud Farm

Slatinany Stud Farm offers guided tours to visitors and has been part of the Národní hřebčín Kladruby nad Labem since 1992. The guided tour also includes the historic saddle room of the Auersperg family. If this room particularly interests you, look out for the guided tour when planning and check the booking arrangements before your trip. The stud farm’s membership of the National Stud since 1992 adds an institutional connection to the specific tour content.

Miniature Castle and Exhibition

The miniature castle Kočičí hrádek, built before 1896 by Princess Vilemína z Auerspergu, was intended to delight not only her children but also people from the surrounding area. It is especially suitable for the youngest visitors. Its history connects the idea of a small castle with an audience expressly extending beyond the family.

The exhibition at Švýcárna offers a different focus. It features a unique magnetic wall with play elements and an authentically furnished study belonging to Professor František Bílek. The two exhibition elements appeal to different interests: the magnetic wall focuses on the play elements, while the study focuses on the named professor and his room.

Forest Trail and Protected Landscape

The observation tower on Chlum can be reached by an easy forest walk of up to 60 minutes; conditions may vary by season. The reconstructed viewpoint on Chlum has been open to the public again since mid-December 2013. Check access before your trip. For Chlum, both practical guidance on the walk’s difficulty and duration and the question of access are relevant.

The northern part of the Slavická obora game reserve, near Slatinany, is freely accessible. It remains part of a protected landscape area and the Slatiňansko–Slavicko Landscape Heritage Zone; access conditions may change. For this destination, the named section and its protected-area status are the main points, while for the observation tower on Chlum, the forest walk and its duration provide the key guidance.

Discover more destinations: Svratouch, Hroubovice, Ctětín, Tuněchody, Krouna, Rvacov, Premilov, Orel

For the broader travel overview: Okres Chrudim.