After the Corona virus pandemic, Eastern European Saab car fan clubs are increasingly active and organize mбore and more interesting events and gatherings. Let’s just remember last year’s great gathering of Saa car enthusiasts from Poland “Saab & Wine 2021“, which is being held this year as well. Very similar to that gathering is the last gathering and mini-rally of a Czech club called “SAAB & Chateau 2022“.
SAAB & Chateau 2022
According to the organizers, this was officially the third year of the “SAAB & Chateau” gathering, and for that they are very grateful to everyone who was a part of it, because without true Saab fans (and their Saab cars, of course) gatherings like this wouldn’t be possible.
Of course, such a gathering would not be interesting if there were not participants from several Eastern European countries in addition to the hosts from the Czech Republic. And there were crews not only from Austria, Slovenia, Hungary, Ukraine, but also from Romania. The latter traveled an incredible 1,500 kilometers to spend the weekend with other Saab car lovers. We believe that it was worth it, as can be seen from the attached video from this event:
The whole event can be described in just a few words: 30 SAAB crews, 3 medieval castles and an endless story. And it was this year’s “SAAB & Chateau” event, this time with the grand finale at one of the most romantic places in Central Europe, Hluboká Castle on the Vltava.
But here we present to you the story of our Saab organizers from the very beginning. Saturday’s program officially began symbolically in Hluboš Castle in Central Bohemia, which Czech Saab fans and guests visited for the first time a year ago.
Their trip from Prague also took place around that time, so they didn’t want to miss this place. They once again remembered the story of T. G. Masaryk and supported the efforts of the non-profit company Zámek Hluboš z.ú., which since 2020 is trying to maintain the cultural value of this building and breathe new life into it, What fans of Saab cars at the time see as a parallel to what we are all trying to achieve with the SAAB brand.
After the organizational departure, the participants headed south together in a convoy of 25 cars. A sleepy drive along winding roads bathed in the morning sun and edged with the colors of blossoming meadows, fields and woods brought them all the way to Blatná Castle.
Here they were joined by the rest of the Saab crew. They entered the castle yard via a narrow bridge over a moat and filled it to capacity. Blatná Castle, the seat of the Hildprandts and a unique water estate, provided them with a haven for a short break for lunch in the castle park and many experiences, not only culinary.
The program included a lunch prepared just for them by the famous Sůl & Řepa restaurant, a walk in the castle park and feeding fallow deer or a tour of the castle’s interior. The views from the windows of the castle rooms then offered an incredible view of their entire SAAB fleet. The route was carefully planned, but until the last moment it was not clear how they would manage it in such numbers.
Although this year they did not “play” with the colors of the cars, because most of the cars present were in the typical shades of black and gray for SAAB, but nevertheless the whole convoy must have been a beautiful sight from the air.
After about an hour and a half of driving through the picturesque South Bohemian countryside, we arrived at our desired destination. They bypassed Hotel Dvorac Štekl, so this year they missed a lot. Apart from rare foreign guests, Saab team also welcomed 2 owners of a unique SAAB 9-5 NG sportcombi at SAAB & Chateau, the only 2 in the Czech Republic and both here in Hluboka, what an honor. The courtyard with the fountain and the terrace welcomed them literally like an oasis in the middle of the desert, they were quite parched and warmed by the sun.
This was followed by well-deserved relaxation, a walk in the adjacent park with a view of the Hluboká Castle, hotel wellness, a wonderful dinner and lots of great drinks in pleasant company. The experience of the entire weekend was crowned by a night in the beautiful castle rooms. So that was their story this year, the 3rd year of SAAB & Chateau, and on this occasion we would like to thank Katka & Jakub for this report.
