Maanta Stories

František and the freedom of being outside

Glamping Luhačovice — Czech Republic

In the meadow on the hills of Luhačovice,
the boundary between inside and outside disappears.

The lodges emerge from the grass as if they had always been there. Dark grey, clean lines, solar panels on the roof: built to blend into the landscape without overpowering it. All around, the forest forms a natural border. The sky is vast.

František has known this place since he was a child. He grew up in Wallachia, among hills and unhurried nature, and he knows how to recognise places that invite you to slow down.

At the glamping site, life happens mostly outside.

When František, together with his children Klárka and Franta, took over the management of the glamping site, they did not think about starting from scratch: they chose to continue a project that was already working.

Those who had opened it before them had a clear vision: sleeping with the forest outside the window without giving up comfort. Their task was to preserve that idea and carry it forward with care.

People come to Luhačovice to slow down: it is a spa town, with something ancient in the air and the feeling that time moves more slowly here. The glamping site brings the same pace outdoors: the terrace in the morning, a glass of wine in the evening, the unhurried hours in between.

But an outdoor space can truly be enjoyed only if it stays comfortable even when the weather is not perfect.

When the July sun beats hard on the pale wood, or when the sky clouds over unexpectedly in the afternoon. František wanted his guests to be able to stay on the terrace at any time of the day.

František, Luhačovice

"We wanted our guests to be able to enjoy the outdoor space at any time of the day, even in strong sunshine. But it was essential to preserve the character of the place — the simplicity, the greenery, the naturalness. We did not want to add something that felt out of place. We wanted something that seemed like it had always been part of it."

Today the terrace has its shade, without taking anything away from the meadow.

The grass sways in the wind, light filters through the trees, and above the terrace there is a soft, unobtrusive shade: the ivory-coloured shade sail barely stands out against the sky.

To have shade and shelter from the rain without changing the character of the place, František chose a Solaria Lean waterproof shade sail in Ivory: one side is anchored to the lodge, the other is supported by an Alu Simple pole. A minimal structure that keeps the view open to the sky and the tall grass.

Because some places only work when you know how to leave things as they are.