KUKS: An island of Baroque art

KUKS:
An island of Baroque art

Many tales from the Baroque era begin with a miracle. It’s fraud that seems to have been behind Kuks. The spring waters don't have healing properties, but Kuks once surpassed other spa resorts in Europe, attracting celebrities and artists.

It’s said that wine flowed from the fountains. While the beneficial effects of the water was a hoax, it led to the creation of one of the most fascinating gems of Baroque art in the world.
 

The spa disappeared from Kuks just as quickly as it emerged, surviving its founder, Count Franz Anton von Sporck, by just two years. In 1740, a whirlwind hit the place along with a big flood, devastating the valley on both sides. That spelt the end of the spa. 

The period of spa revelry gave way to taking care of the elderly, sick and wounded. While the resort continued to deteriorate, the hospital designed for up to a hundred old men slowly began to fill up and enliven. During the wars, the facility served as a military hospital.

Today, the hospital and the village are undergoing extensive renovation. The process of recovery is taking place with significant support from EU funds.
 

Sochy Matyase Brauna from ZkusKuks on Vimeo.