In the area of the hospital in Kuks, there could be a European hunting museum

Hradec Králové - The Order of Saint Hubert is preparing a project to utilize the baroque hospital Kuks in the Trutnov region, which plans to convert the rear wing of the building into an exhibition on hunting in individual countries of the European Union. The hospital complex is still owned by the state, and the regional office is already seeking its transfer without compensation, with which the order wants to cooperate on the museum preparation, reports Krkonošský deník in its today’s edition.
    According to the project, there should be a background for the order in the rear part of the building, and the exhibition would present the history of hunting in individual European states, from the original source of livelihood up to the current care for landscapes and wildlife. The exhibits should also highlight specific customs or traditions; according to the order, a similar exhibition is not yet visible in European countries. "Kuks is literally destined to present hunting as a bearer of culture and tradition with an emphasis on the ethics of hunting and the morality of the hunter," said the Grand Master of the order, Jan Votava.
    The entire exhibition and the updating of collections would be ensured by the Order of Saint Hubert, while the region should provide part of the area to the order for symbolic rent. The order was founded by Count František Antonín Špork in 1695; the hospital complex in Kuks also partially served as a home for old hunters and estate employees. The region plans that Kuks should become a significant tourist attraction and one of the centers of cultural and social life in the region.
    The baroque complex in Kuks was started by František Antonín Špork in 1692. The construction activities peaked around 1710. From the originally expansive spa complex, only the hospital with the Church of the Holy Trinity and the crypt have survived to this day. The chateau and some other buildings were lost due to floods and fire. The world-famous Braun sculpture decoration of the site is notable. Last November, the site appeared on the preliminary selection of Czech monuments for inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage List for the years 2007 to 2018.