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KRATOCHVÍLE | |
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"The liege lord was pleased to build itt the Netolice reserve
a very costly attd beautiful building, that is, inside ih the centre a new storey arched
oh the mire, everything standing on pales, and ramparts on all sides, also a gateway with
a tower... also a little church `: In this way Václav Březan describes the founding of Kratochvíle by Vilém of Rožmberk. When Vilém appointed Jakub Krčín of Jelčany regent of his estate in 1569., he gave him Leptač estate near Netolice as a reward for his faithful service. Krčín began to build a new stronghold called Nový (New) Leptač, situated in ideal surroundings for hunting and so he founded a large reserve for rabbits which had no like in Bohemia. Vilém liked Nový Leptač so much that he offered Krčín the town of Sedlčany in exchange and the offer was accepted. The reconstruction of the stronghold was entrusted to Baltazare Maggi of Arogna. On a square space lined with ramparts and bastions and a moat with drawbridge, a Renaissance Italian - type villa called a casino arose, surrounded by a rectangular garden with fountains. Kratochvíle, as it was then named, served Vilém and his fourth wife from 1589 onwards as a lodge for resting after hunting trips into the environs. The groundfloor entrance hall and dining room are decorated with pictures with hunting themes by Jiří Widmann. The upper storey with reception and private chambers has remarkable stucco decoration on themes from Livy's History of Rome, painted by the Italian, Antonio Melana, and Widmann added to the pomp and splendour of Kratochvíle with his five-part Samson cycle. The busy social life at Kratochvíle stopped in 1602 when Petr Vok of Rožmberk passed on Krumlov and Netolice to Emperor Rudolph II. Other owners, the Eggenbergs and after them the Schwarzenbergs, just kept Kratochvffe in good repair. The most important building operation was the change of the simple roof into a double attic in 1758-1762. Kratochvíle enchants today's visitors as it once enchanted Vilém of Rožmberk with its charming surroundings. The restored painted and stuccoed decoration inside the villa is supplemented by an exhibition of cartoon films. The local legends concern mainly the regent, pond-builder and alchemist Krčín. One says that to ensure that his pond survived, Krčín sold his soul to the Devil. He could thereafter be seen on the surrounding fields harnessed to a plough, driven by the Devil. |
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