Not so long ago, the Czech Palace in Kvasetice was a ruin on the brink of complete collapse, whose future seemed sealed. However, everything has changed and, thanks to a private initiative, the building has regained its former charm. Today, it is once again bustling with life as a hotel, restaurant and cultural venue.
Kvasetice Castle – a 19th-century mansion
Kvasetice Castle (Czech: Zámek Kvasetice) is situated in the Vysočina Region, approximately 15 kilometres from Havlíčkův Brod. The mansion was built in 1864 on the initiative of Prokop Richlý, owner of the Květinov-Kvasetice estate, as a stately home for his son Vilém – though it ultimately passed into the ownership of his daughter Berta. Following her marriage to Jaroslav Schmidt, a doctor of law, the palace remained in the Schmidt family’s possession for many decades.
The building was designed in the pseudo-Gothic style, which was fashionable in the mid-19th century. The two-storey main building was complemented by a tall four-sided tower, pointed-arch windows, battlements and decorative details inspired by medieval defensive architecture. The residence was surrounded by a beautiful park, and the historic complex was complemented by outbuildings, a chapel and a family mausoleum. At the beginning of the 20th century, the complex was extended to include a conservatory and a winter garden, which were completed in 1920–1921.
War, nationalisation and years of neglect
The palace’s heyday was brutally cut short by the Second World War. The building was seized by German troops, and after the war ended, the former owners lost their estate. In 1948, following the Communist takeover in Czechoslovakia, the residence was nationalised. In the years that followed, it housed an artificial insemination centre, a school and various state institutions. Uncontrolled alterations to the interiors, a lack of systematic renovations and progressive neglect left the building in a very poor state of repair. Following the Velvet Revolution in 1989 and the political changes, the palace was returned to the Schmidt family; however, the cost of restoration was beyond the owners’ means. The building therefore continued to fall into disrepair, awaiting better times.
250 lorry-loads of rubble and a complete rebuild
A new chapter in the history of Kvasetice Palace began in 2016, when it was purchased by Lubomír and Dana Dvořák. The couple had the financial means and a strong desire to save the ruined estate. The first few months of work were devoted to clearing away rubble, collapsed sections of the building and overgrown vegetation. Over the course of a year, around 250 lorryloads of rubble were removed, revealing the historic structure of the mansion. The roof proved to be the greatest challenge. Most of the roof truss was rotten or had collapsed, and some of the vaults required complete reconstruction. In many places, so little of the original structure remained that the work was carried out based on knowledge of historical building techniques and an analysis of the surviving fragments.
The Palace in Kvasetice: Respecting History
The renovation was carried out with great care to preserve the building’s historical appearance. The façades were given a subdued colour scheme that emphasises the building’s pseudo-Gothic character. The stucco decorations and window surrounds were restored, with the appropriate plaster composition selected in collaboration with the Vitošov lime works. For the reconstruction of the roof, ceramic roof tiles in a colour reminiscent of slate were used instead of heavy slate. In this way, it was possible to preserve the historic appearance without placing an excessive load on the already worn-out roof structure and weakened walls.
Inside the palace, the stone archways, staircases and many other original details have been preserved. The new windows and doors are made of wood, and the fittings have been recreated based on the sole surviving example discovered during the works. Granite from the Dolní Březinka quarry plays a major role in the restored building. It was used to create the fireplaces, floors, window sills and the impressive columns in the staircase, each of which weighs over 800 kilograms. In the restaurant, the steel supports have been left in place and clad with sandblasted granite panels. The owners crafted the chandeliers, door handles, fittings and many decorations inspired by the Gothic four-leaf clover motif themselves.
The Palace in Kvasetice and its new uses
In 2022, the first wedding took place in the palace, which had been restored from ruins, marking the start of the venue’s trial operation. The restaurant was officially opened shortly afterwards, and a year later the boutique hotel began operating. Today, the residence also serves as a venue for conferences and special events. The surroundings have not been overlooked either. The historic park is being systematically restored, and there is a garden next to the restaurant that supplies fruit and vegetables to the hotel’s kitchen. The property has already received its first Gault & Millau gastronomic accolade. Despite the sheer scale of the work carried out, the owners emphasise that the restoration is still ongoing. The lion’s share of the work was carried out by their own hands, together with craftsmen specialising in the conservation of historic architecture.
source: Kvasetice Castle
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The palace then and now:
