Fara (Kbel) Parish house

Welcome to the Kbel. Stop for a moment, take a deep breath and forget the rush of today. Right now, you're standing in front of one of the silent but very important witnesses of local history. In front of you is the rectory building, which, by its presence and appearance, defines the very center of the village. If you look at her, you may see the peace and stability that this house has been radiating for hundreds of years. It is a place where, for centuries, spiritual administration has been confronted with the daily life of the village, where important community issues have been addressed and where the person responsible for the spiritual leadership of the local population has found refuge.

Let us now go back in time for more than two centuries together, to a time when everything was perceived differently, both globally and aesthetically. This building was built in the years of seven hundred sixty-four and those of seven hundred sixty-five. It was a time when in the European space and in our countries it culminated and slowly moved into a late stage style called the Baroque. The late baroque brought some nobility to the landscape, but also an effort for harmony and balance. The creation of the Kbel rectory was not a random construction project. A person named Františka Augusta z Törring-Jettenbachu took credit for its construction and overall restoration of the parish administration in this area. Thanks to her influence, support and will, this house could have been created and served as a dignified seat for the vicar. Imagine how at that time this new, white building in the centre of the village had to affect the people at that time. It was a symbol of order, stability and care for the spiritual needs of the community.

Now pay full attention to the very appearance of the building in front of you. Look at its overall structure. It is a single-storey object that is very balanced. Notice the roof first. It's a so-called Mansard roof. If you look at it carefully, you'll see that it's not a simple straight slope, but it's characteristic broken. This type of roof was very popular at the time because it made it possible to use the space under the roof more efficiently, which could serve as a residential or storage room, while also supplying a specific, elegant and slightly urban profile to the building.

Now look at the facade, the front wall of the house. Notice how the corners of the building are broken down. These details in the corners are not only an ornament, but provide the facade with depth, rhythm and feeling of strength. The entire upper edge of the building ends with a crown ledge. It's the fine, rising hem that, like a frame, closes the wall towards the sky and separates it from the roof. Now please look down to the stone portal, the main entrance to the building. It was here in the past that one of the most important ornaments of the whole house was found. There was a statue of St. John Nepomuk standing over the entrance, here in the stone, watching over all who entered the parish. Although this statue was later removed and will not be found here today, in your mind you can imagine it as a silent guardian who welcomed visitors and parishioners.

When you stand in front of these walls, remember how many generations of people have passed through them over the centuries. The parish building is not only a static piece of stone and plaster, but a living organism that has been changing and adapting to the times. Historical records tell us interesting stories about the maintenance and care of this house, which reveal even the minor details of life back then. Around the year a thousand eight hundred and ninety-seven were here to repair the chimneys and replace the glass in the windows. It may sound like a banal thing, but at the time, it meant a major improvement in comfort, so that in the winter months in the house the heat would remain and clean light would enter the rooms.

A little later, in the year one thousand nine hundred and thirteen, however, time proved to work relentlessly against the building. The priest then filed a complaint about the poor technical condition of the building. Try to imagine what wet walls, bursting plaster or wobbly floors were like at the time, calling for help and repair. It was a period when Baroque beauty began to struggle with the reality of wear and tear. Another big break in the life of the building came in a thousand nine hundred forty-one. That's when the electricity was put in the rectory. Imagine the moment when electric bulbs first lit up in these old Baroque spaces and replaced old candles, kerosine lamps or oil lights. It was a real entry into the modern age that changed the way the house lived and worked.

In the newer days of the rectory, it has undergone other changes that reflect changes in our social system. In the year two thousand and six, the building was offered for sale, which opened up discussions about its future role in the village and how to preserve its historical value. A year later, in the year two thousand seven, a repair permit was issued from the National Heritage Institute. This is a very important detail because it confirms that the Kbel parish is not just an ordinary old house, but is officially recognised as a cultural monument of the Czech Republic. It is therefore one of the historical treasures of our country to be protected and maintained for future generations. It is fascinating to think that this building, which survived the Great War, changes in state regimes and periods of technical decline, is still in the centre of the village and reminds us of the time of the late Baroque and the importance of the parish administration.

This building carries secrets for many years. Who went through all the silent passages? What did the priests talk to the locals about? What hopes and fears were expressed in these walls? Although the statue of St. John Nepomuk is no longer above the portal, the spirit of this place remains. Fara in Kbel is a bridge between the past and the present, a silent witness to how a small village became the place we know today.

Now that you know the story of this building, and you know what to focus on, I suggest you go around it quietly again. Feel the atmosphere of this place, touch the facade with a look at the details and think about how many prayers, joy and worries have taken place in these walls. Look again at the broken roof and the stone entrance, and imagine how life was unfolding here two years ago.

Thank you for accompanying me on this short trip to the history of the Kbel rectory. I hope this view of the building helped you see it in a new light. Now invited to further explore the surroundings, to walk through the streets of the village and to discover other hidden corners and monuments that carry inside the stories of our ancestors. I wish you a pleasant continued journey and many new discoveries. Say goodbye to this baroque pearl and go on to the beauty of the Earth and the clergy that Kbel and its surroundings offer you. Goodbye.