The Lany Castle
The castle in the village of Lany, in the Krivoklat forest, is the summer seat of the Presidents of the Czech Republic.
The castle's history is a long one: the first mention of Lany comes from 1392. In the course of the centuries it has belonged to various noble families, briefly also to Emperor Rudolph II. It has been rebuilt many times and its present appearance is the result of alterations in 1902 - 1903. The latest adaptations to the castle and its immediate surroundings were made in 1921 - 24 by architect Josip Plecnik.
The castle is the dominating point of a spreading park, which was only founded ion the middle of the 19th century, when the moat was filled in. There is a fishpond in the park, and later greenhouses were added. The appearance of the park today is influenced by J.Plecnik's adaptations.
Just near the castle is the Lany game park, part of the former so-called Great Game Park from the 18th century. It is used mainly for breeding pedigree game (red deer, fallow deer, moufflon, sika deer). The facilities for top-level hunting was one of the reasons why Lany was chosen in 1921 as a temporary and summer seat for the head of the now Czechoslovak state. But together with the exclusive hunts the choice of Lany was influenced by its nearness to Prague, convenient rail and road links, the beauty of the surroundings K°ivoklat forests and too the suitable furnishing of the castle.
The first president of the Czechoslovak Republic, Tomas Garrigue Masaryk, was very fond of Lany castle. He considered Lany his home and spent many moments of both work and rest there. After he abdicated from the presidency in 1935, he moved to Lany permanently with his family. He chose Lany cemetery as the last resting place for his dearest and for himself. The tomb of the Masaryk family became a symbol of Czechoslovak democracy even during the totalitarian period.
After the death of T. G. Masaryk Lany castle was only used sporadically, only during the Second World Was the state president Dr. Emil Hacha lived there. But now the present president of the Czech Republic, Vaclav Havel, visits Lany regularly.
The Lany woods also hide a remarkable technical memorial: the remains of the second oldest railway on the European continent. The horse-drawn railway was to have led from Prague to Plzen, but it ended in Lany. It was in operation from 1830 to 1869, and the branch line to Lany forest was in use till 1873. The former gamekeeper's lodge Pine on the edge of the Lany game park is really one of the oldest stations - it was the place where the horses were changed and also where the engineer lived.
You can reach Lany from Prague by taking the road to Karlovy Vary for about 35 kilometres.
This year the castle park is open to the public: From 11th April till 1st November, always on Saturdays, Sundays and Public Holidays from 9 to 17 hours, on Wednesdays and Thursdays from 14 to 18 hours. The park is also open on 7th March and 14th September, the anniversaries of the birth and the death of President Masaryk.
The Lany cemetery is the burial place of the first Czechoslovak president, T. G. Masaryk, and his family. The cemetery is open all the year round.
There is also a small museum of T. G. Masaryk in the village.
In the church The Name of Jesus, which is next to the castle, regular services are held: on Thursdays and Saturdays from 17 hours, on Sundays from 15 hours.