Fara (okres Strakonice) Parish house

Welcome to Kadov. Right now you're standing in a place where history touches the present and where every stone and every wall tells stories of the past century. Before your eyes, there is a rectory which is not just an ordinary house, but a key element of the entire historical heart of this village. Before we take a deeper look, try to stop for a while and just look around. Feel the strange atmosphere of a place where architecture is constantly intertwined with the surrounding space. You're standing in the center of a very rare and valuable urban unit. Notice how this building naturally connects to neighbouring monuments. You see the proximity of St. Wenceslas' church, you feel the connection to the fort and the hospital building. All these buildings speak the same language, forming one comprehensive picture that will immediately transfer you to a time when this area was an important centre of its surroundings.

Now let's move further into time together and understand how this place came to be. This rectory that you are currently observing has its beginning in the mid-eighteenth century. More precisely, its main construction was completed in the year one thousand seven hundred fifty-eight. At that time, the rectory was not only home to spiritual administrators, but it was also an important point for the whole community. But the history of this place has not always been a peaceful course of years. In the year one thousand seven hundred and eighty one there was a fateful moment that could change this historical whole forever. There was a fire. Although the main farm building survived due to its construction, economic buildings in its vicinity have suffered considerable damage. However, this event triggered an effort to recover, thanks to which economic buildings were rebuilt soon after the fire. It is thanks to this rapid response and the effort to maintain the functionality of the whole place that we can now monitor such a balanced and preserved whole.

Now pay attention to the architecture of the building in front of you. Look at her facade and see the overall shape of the building. The Fara is built in a baroque style, a style known for its efforts at harmony, balance and a kind of dignity. Notice how the color of the facade is designed. It is not a random selection of colors, but a deliberate step to make the building fully match with other historical buildings in this place. This color uniformity is one of the most important elements that create a sense of integrity and calm. Baroque architecture does not act as a foreign element here, but as a natural part of this urban space. Although we do not know the names of the particular architects who have implemented this idea, their ability to create such a coherent and aesthetically pleasant whole is now evident in every view you dedicate to this building. Feel the certainty and order that baroque style brings to this place.

But every historical monument is more than just stone and paint on the walls. It's a place where people's lives, joy, and sadness took place. Although we have not been able to maintain the names of the specific personalities who lived in these premises, we can imagine their presence. Fara served her original spiritual purpose for a very long time. She was home to priests who did their duty here and were part of the daily life of the people of Kadova. This era lasted until the end of the 400's. In particular, this was the 26th October of the year of the thousand nine hundred and fourteen-nine when the last priest left. This moment meant the end of a long chapter in the history of this place and the beginning of a whole new era, when the role of this building in the community began to change.

You may find one very interesting thing that shows how history can change and how old spaces can adapt to the new needs of humanity. After leaving the last priest, the building did not leave, but it gained a completely different, very human and social form. In a thousand and nine hundred and fifty-six, a mother and child counselling centre was set up, operated by the Czechoslovak Red Cross. Imagine that huge shift. A building that has been linked to religion and spiritual life for centuries has become a place where practical help, support and expertise have been provided to people in the most sensitive situations of life. This new feature has given a completely different meaning to the building and for many generations the parish has become a symbol of care and humanity.

Now that you've been through basic history and understood the importance of this building, I suggest you continue your tour of the area. You stand in a place that is rich in detail and that can still surprise you with its harmonious structure. Look at the church of St. Wenceslas and try to see how all these historical elements connect into one magnificent story. Thank you for spending this moment with our guide and for your interest in the heritage of this place. We wish you a beautiful rest of the day and many other pleasant experiences in discovering the beauty of this region. We'll say goodbye and wish you a pleasant journey on.