The 24 statues lining the terrace represent 12 human Virtues and 12 human Vices.
The Pomegranate Pharmacy, or U Granátového jablka, retains its original 18th-century medicinal jars and equipment.
Count Špork used the spa to host elaborate festivals and theatrical performances for European nobility.
The hospital's crypt serves as the final resting place for the donor, Count František Antonín Špork, who requested his heart be buried in a separate casket.
The complex was constructed based on the concept of 'memento mori,' emphasizing the transition between life and death.
Hospital Kuks is a former Baroque almshouse and spa complex founded by Count František Antonín Špork in the late 17th century. Located in the Elbe River valley, the site transitioned from a health resort to a charitable hospital for war veterans. The complex features a notable terrace adorned with an allegory of Virtues and Vices sculpted by Matthias Bernard Braun. The facility houses the third-oldest pharmacy in the Czech Republic, known as the Pomegranate Pharmacy. Visitors can tour the historic hospital interior, the crypt of the Špork family, and the extensive herb garden. The site is a National Cultural Monument that underwent a major restoration completed in 2015. The surrounding grounds include a vineyard and the unique sculptural gallery integrated into the landscape.
The upper terrace in front of the statues, looking out over the valley and the river.
Walk across the river to the opposite bank for an unobstructed view of the hospital facade.
Check the website for specific tour language availability as guided tours are the primary way to access interior rooms.
Allow extra time to walk through the herb garden, which features species used in historic medicinal treatments.
Attempting to view the main interiors without a guided tour, as independent access is restricted.
Closed on Mondays during the off-season; full operations typically limited to the spring-through-autumn months.
Maintain a quiet demeanor inside the chapel and crypt areas; photography rules vary by interior room.
