Baroque Complex and Gardens in Kuks / Barokní komplex a zahrady v Kuksu (East Bohemia)
N 50° 23.859 E 015° 53.360
33U E 563207 N 5583222
Reconstruction of the complex of former Baroque hospital convent of Brothers Hospitallers and adjacent gardens in Kuks, belonging among the true pearls of European Baroque architecture, was awarded by prestigeous Europa Nostra prize in May 2017.
Waymark Code: WMVY21
Location: Královéhradecký kraj, Czechia
Date Posted: 06/09/2017
Views: 19
Reconstruction of the complex of former Baroque hospital convent of Brothers Hospitallers and adjacent gardens in Kuks, belonging among the true pearls of European Baroque architecture, was awarded by prestigeous Europa Nostra prize in May 2017.
The large Baroque complex in the valley of the Elbe River was constructed between 1692-1724 on the demand of count František Antonín Špork (Franz Anton von Sporck), the owner of the Kuks demesne. He had big plans for the locality, gradually starting to realise the large-scale transformation of the valley into a summer resort, which became the spa and social centre of the period nobility. One of the most representative spas in Bohemia of the time was built on the left bank. Gradually, a staircase with a chateau, a theatre, a race track, spa houses, guest houses and Philosophers’ House with a library were constructed. The importance of the local spa already started to decline during the life of count Špork and its destiny was definitely sealed after his death. Consequently, today there is practically nothing left from the buildings on the left bank except for the cascade staircase to the Elbe River.
However, the right bank of the Elbe River is much more interesting. In 1696, earl Špork decided to found a hospital for the old veterans from the surrounding area at his mansion. He had the hospital and the Holy Trinity Church and crypt of an earl built according to the project of famous Italian architect Giovanni Battista Alliprandi. The monumental space in front of the church’s frontage and hospital is decorated by sculptures made by the significant Baroque sculptor Matyáš Bernard Braun. The sculpture decoration was created in 1712-1731 and depicts the Allegory of Religion and a number of Virtues and Vices. Soon after the Spork's death in 1738, Brothers Hospitallers of Saint John of God arrived to Kuks and took charge over the hospital, founded convent here ans also famous pharmacy "At Pomegranate (U Granátového jablka)". Hospitallers run the convent hospital until 1938, when they were expelled by Nazi' occupation forces and convent was abolished. After WWII it served as Pensionner house and also as archive, later it was converted into museum.
Nowadays, the Kuks convent hospital complex serves as a museum of history, managed by the National heritage institute, with exhibitions of Baroque art and development of medicine. It is possible to visit the church, the gardens, the Špork’s tombs as well as the perfectly preserved Baroque pharmacy from 1743. Nearby the Kuks Hospital we will find one of the top art pieces of Baroque sculpting in Europe, i.e. Braun’s Nativity Scene, which was created on the demand of count Špork and became a resting area for the visitors of the spa. In 2001, Braun’s Nativity Scene was proclaimed a National cultural monument of the Czech Republic. The convent hospital complex was generally reconstructed in 2010–2015 (costs ca 500 000 000 CZK), so currently it shines in its original beauty...