Kolowratovy sady

In 1675, Count Jan Václav Novohradský of Kolowraty bought the Tachov estate with the decaying Přimda Castle for 202,200 gold. He did not attempt to rebuild the castle, but moved the manor house to the settlement of Velké Meierhöfen on the slopes of Přimda Mountain. Here he built a splendid Baroque chateau and began urban, economic and agricultural cultivation of the surroundings. The Kolowrat-Krakowski family then held the estate continuously until confiscation by the German Empire in 1940, after which the property was nationalized by the Communist regime. After his fall, the lands and buildings forming the estate were largely returned to Count Jindřich Kolowrat-Krakowský. Apple growing in the vicinity of the chateau park in Velké Dvorce is documented for the first time on maps III. military mapping from 1872. So the orchards had to be planted much earlier. However, there is no doubt that the tradition of apple growing in Velké Dvorce lasts at least 150 years. During the time of non-freedom, the orchards became part of the state farm, under whose influence the growing area was extended. After 1989, the former employees of the state farm, the association in Agroova Ltd. privatized, equipment, machinery and part of the area under management. The Kolowrat orchard was leased to them by Count Jindřich for a symbolic price and a promise of proper management. In 2014, Agroova s.r.o. Grandson of Count Henry, Maximilian Alexander Kolowrat-Krakowsky. This act completely restituted the state before the time of non-freedom and the orchards continue to operate under the new name Kolowratovy sady s.r.o. Mr. Kolowrat-Krakowský decided to carry out an expensive restoration of fruit stands, buildings and facilities, which is currently under way. Not only was the number of employees maintained, the company created new jobs. Under the leadership of Mr. Kolowrat-Krakowski, orchard production has been awarded the prestigious GLOBALG.A.P.