Turns out Crispin Glover, best known for his role as George McFly in "Back to the Future," isn't the only foreigner to restore a castle in the Czech Republic.
Italian artist Eugenio Percossi and his partner, architect Alberto Di Stefano, are lovingly restoring a Renaissance castle (complete with moat) just outside the medieval town of Kutna Hora, an UNESCO World Heritage site with silver mines, the Gothic frescoed St. Barbara Church and a 15th century chapel decorated with human bones.
Like the castle in the fairytale Sleeping Beauty, Chateau Trebesice was covered with brambles and in desperate need of attention when Percossi and Di Stefano purchased it in 2000.
"We spent the first two years just staring at it, trying to decide what to do," says Percossi, a renowned artist who regularly exhibits in New York, Rome, Dubai and, of course, in Prague where he and Di Stefano own Futura, Prague's most avant-garde (and often controversial) gallery.
Little by little, Percossi and Di Stefano have turned the 13th century chateau into one of the most unique B&B&B's (bed, breakfast and bodacious three-course dinner) in Europe. The third "B," by the way, is no small prize. All meals are meticulously prepared by Italian foodies with asparagus, fava beans, berries and dozens of other organic fruits and veggies from the castle's French-inspired ornamental kitchen garden.
Every summer, the creative duo, who also own an artists' residency space in New York, invite in internationally-known artists for month-long castle residencies. In return for room and board, each of five artists creates a permanent installation. So far, more than 80 pieces of contemporary art are scattered throughout the castle and its ooh-la-la grounds.
Emerging from the moat on the right side of the bridge, for example, is Slovak artist Tomas Dzadon's scale model Panelak, the ubiquitous apartment building erected during Communism. Suspending from the barn's roof is a neon heart, a replica of the 53-foot heart created above the Prague Castle in 2002 to honor retiring Vaclav Havel.
When artists are not in residence, guests can stay in one of five suites, each an art piece in itself. I stayed in the "Presidents Room," nestled under a down comforter, next to a red velvet Madonna while giant Jiri David pieces of Vaclav Havel and Vaclav Klaus, the first two presidents of the non-Communist Czech, stared me down. Originally created for the 2004 Venice Biennial, the eerie twin portraits were made by splitting photos and reassembling.
Speaking of Klaus, David Cerny's incendiary kiss-off of the right-wing Czech president is permanently displayed at Percossi and Di Stefano's Prague gallery. Viewers climb a 20-foot ladder to peer into a fiberglass anus where videos of a rubber-mask-wearing impersonator of Klaus feeds slop to another politician to the tune of "We Are the Champions."
Chateau Trebesice's Black and White room, created by Percossi to look like a period photograph, has 1930's style furnishing in endless shades of grey and black. Even the paintings, the books, the plants and the fruit in the bowl are painted grey.
Percossi, who speaks fluent English with a charming-a-Italian-a-accent-a, greets each guest to Chateau Trebesice personally. He gives tours and weaves delightful tales about each piece of art from the library's graffiti ceiling (created by Czech street artist Jakub Matuska-AKA The Masker--in 2008) to the main hall's Memento Mori, a modern ossuary with hundreds of anatomically realistic skulls made from bread.
For contemporary art lovers, Chateau Trebesice is a must-see along with Kutna Hora's (it's five minutes away) Jesuit College turned contemporary art museum. GASK, just opened since May, is garnering international attention for its innovative interactive installations, candlelit musical performances and exhibits of subversive European art. No doubt art honcho Damien Hirst's solo show in December will keep its reputation brewing.
Chateau Trebesice is just 80 minutes from Prague, Zamek Trebesice 1, 28601 Caslav, Czech Republic, (420) 603 789 983.
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
It's Another Trump-Biden Showdown — And We Need Your Help
The Future Of Democracy Is At Stake
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
Your Loyalty Means The World To Us
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
The 2024 election is heating up, and women's rights, health care, voting rights, and the very future of democracy are all at stake. Donald Trump will face Joe Biden in the most consequential vote of our time. And HuffPost will be there, covering every twist and turn. America's future hangs in the balance. Would you consider contributing to support our journalism and keep it free for all during this critical season?
HuffPost believes news should be accessible to everyone, regardless of their ability to pay for it. We rely on readers like you to help fund our work. Any contribution you can make — even as little as $2 — goes directly toward supporting the impactful journalism that we will continue to produce this year. Thank you for being part of our story.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
It's official: Donald Trump will face Joe Biden this fall in the presidential election. As we face the most consequential presidential election of our time, HuffPost is committed to bringing you up-to-date, accurate news about the 2024 race. While other outlets have retreated behind paywalls, you can trust our news will stay free.
But we can't do it without your help. Reader funding is one of the key ways we support our newsroom. Would you consider making a donation to help fund our news during this critical time? Your contributions are vital to supporting a free press.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our journalism free and accessible to all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. Would you consider becoming a regular HuffPost contributor?
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. If circumstances have changed since you last contributed, we hope you'll consider contributing to HuffPost once more.
Support HuffPostAlready contributed? Log in to hide these messages.