From the Boardroom to the Bohemian Highlands

In the weekend edition of Czechia in 30 Minutes, Czech aristocrat Constantin Kinský reflects on his return to Czechia, rebuilding a family legacy, and how the country can reclaim its place at the heart of Europe.

Born in France, Constantin Kinský forged a successful career in international finance. But after the fall of communism in Central and Eastern Europe, he felt a powerful pull toward his family’s homeland. Together with his late father, he returned to Žďár nad Sázavou — also my own hometown — to reclaim not just the family estate but a legacy disrupted by decades of exile.

“For 50 years, we were forbidden to have our own opinions,” Kinský says. “We need to rebuild our ability to have our own opinions and be creative. So sustainability and creativity.”

Kinský shared his story as a guest on both Czechast, our podcast in English about all things Czech, and the weekend edition of Czechia in 30 Minutes. His insights go beyond personal history, touching on the deeper transformation of Czech society.