Kovárna (Možděnice) Smithy

The old forge in Možděnice is a dual-structure building combining a 1740 stone blacksmith workshop with later residential additions. It is located on the village green in the center of Možděnice, a settlement within the municipality of Vysočina in the Chrudim district. Protected as an immovable cultural monument of the Czech Republic, the complex is notable for its layered architectural history and the preservation of its original bellows, forge, and tools.

The stone workshop, the monument's core, was built in 1740. Constructed from stone masonry, it housed a single-story workshop lit by two windows. The interior still holds original equipment, including a large iron crucible and bellows. Blacksmithing continued here until 1965, making it one of the region's longest-running traditional workshops. While the original wooden shingle roof was replaced by eternit sheets, the building's basic form remains unchanged.

Near the turn of the 19th century, the owner, blacksmith Václav Černý, added a timber-framed residential floor above the workshop. This upper level features a large main room and two smaller chambers, all built using traditional log construction. A wooden gallery (pavlač) projects over the entrance and is accessible from the upper floor. This section is coated in white plaster and features a vertically boarded shield under a sloping half-hip roof on the southern side. These quarters replaced a separate log outbuilding previously used by the blacksmith’s family.

Between 1830 and 1840, a more recent masonry residential wing was built in front of the older structures. This section consists of a front hall, a small antechamber, a main hall, and a black kitchen. Its façade is defined by linked pilasters and windows framed with shams—two on the front and two on the side. A triangular gable with a niche for folk sculpture separates the upper floor from an ornate cornice covered in wooden shingles. Like the older sections, this roof now carries eternit tiles but originally featured wooden shingles.

The Pecina family has owned the forge for over 140 years. They have maintained the property across several generations and currently hold it in private ownership. Since the 1980s, the Pecinas have worked to restore the building to its appearance as a filming location for the fairy-tale movie “O statečném kováři.” Their efforts focus on preserving the historic architectural details and original blacksmithing equipment.

Significant milestones include its 1740 construction, the addition of the timber residential floor before 1800, and the erection of the masonry wing in the 1830s. Other key dates include its 1958 designation as a protected cultural monument and the end of blacksmithing operations in 1965. These events trace the site's evolution from a functional workshop to a heritage site illustrating two centuries of rural craft and domestic architecture.

Although the forge remains privately owned, its exterior is visible from the village green, where it anchors the center of Možděnice. The preserved tools, intact forge, and blend of stone, timber, and brick construction illustrate how a rural workplace adapted to changing needs. Visitors interested in vernacular architecture, Czech folk industry, or the history of everyday life will find the site notable for its authenticity and material continuity.

The old forge of Možděnice serves as a physical record of local craftsmanship and family continuity. Its layered construction, original equipment, and ongoing restoration make it a fascinating destination for those exploring the Chrudim district's cultural landscape. A short walk onto the village green offers a direct encounter with an industrial monument that has survived the transition from 18th-century industry to 21st-century heritage.