Temenice Settlement

Welcome to Temenica. You are now standing in a place that surrounds you with its unusual character. If you look around you, you'll notice you're not in a classic compact village with a central square, but there's a long belt of living in front of you. This village is truly unique in its linearity because it stretches up to six kilometres along the Temenec stream, which forms the natural artery of the whole landscape. Feel this atmosphere of calm and expansiveness, which is with you at this very moment. It's a space where water, nature and human habitations meet in a harmonious series that will lead you northwest of Šumperka. Let's stop at the very beginning of this place. To understand why Temenice looks like this, we have to go back deep into the past. Although the village itself was founded around the year a thousand hundred and eighty, human footprints are much older here. The first evidence of the settlement in this area has led us to the Bronze Age. So imagine that beneath your feet lies a layer of history thousands of years ago. At the time of its establishment in the twelfth century, the village was designed to maximise access to water and fertile soil in the valley, leading to the long shape that you see today. In the early days, agricultural work ruled here and the rhythm of life determined the wading of the creek and the rotation of the seasons. Now pay attention to the surrounding development and architecture you perceive during your journey. Although the faces of houses changed over the centuries, in history Temenice was famous for its specific arrangement. Notice the layout of the spaces around the buildings. In the past, sixty-two goods were dominated, which had a very distinctive appearance with the so-called French Court. This type of development was typical of certain areas of Central Europe and meant a more closed, compact arrangement of economic buildings around the internal space. Even though you may no longer see each of these courts in its original form, this structure has left a mark on how the village is laid out. If we move forward in time, we'll see how the character of Temenice gradually changed. In the nineteenth century, a break came. The agricultural character began to give way to industrial development. At that time, textile factories and bricks began to emerge, bringing new life to the village, machinery noise and a new layer of inhabitants. The industry changed the face of the place from a quiet village to a prosperous centre of crafts and production. This transition from plough to weaving and burning bricks shows how Temenice has managed to adapt to new times. The history of this place is also confused with the fates of prominent personalities and dramatic events. Memories of Temenice are associated with names such as Benedikt z Valdštejna or Jan ze Žerotína, who have left a trail within their influence in the region. The name Arvid Wittenberg is also one of those related to the history of this region. But life in Temenica wasn't always easy. If you look at the chronology of events, you will find that the village has had to overcome many difficult trials. Already in the year one thousand two hundred thirty-nine part of the village burned down in the fire that hit the Shumper monastery. The fire was the greatest enemy of wooden structures at the time. Even darker shadows cast events from the war period. Imagine the year one thousand six hundred forty-three when the village was looted, and only three years later, in one thousand six hundred forty-six, it was occupied by Swedish troops. These events from the time of the Thirty Years' War left deep wounds in people and probably in the form of a village itself. History teaches us that Temenice has always been vulnerable to its position, but at the same time incredibly resilient. The key moment for the modern form of the village was the merge of the Lower and Upper Temenice in the year one thousand eight hundred and eighty-nine into one whole. With this act, the old borders have been erased and a united community has emerged that we know today. However, we are most affected by the memory of spring of the year a thousand nine hundred forty-five. On March 30, a tragic event took place at the Bratrušov shooting range, when 16 Czech patriots were shot. It's a deep and painful blow in the memory of this place, which reminds us of the price people paid for their freedom and identity. Now let's move on to something that might interest you as a mystery or an interesting thing. Think about how fascinating the fact is that in a place where you see ordinary houses and roads today, people have lived in the Bronze Age. It is incredible to imagine that thousands of years ago people chose this very valley along the Temenec stream as the ideal place to live. What drew them to this place so strongly? Was it just water, or in this landscape structure, did they feel something that maybe we now only view as a peaceful landscape? This continuity of human existence in one place for thousands of years is truly unique. Also notice how powerful the linearity of the village is. Most municipalities develop into a circle or around one centre, but Temenice decided to go along the river path. It's like the whole village is one long road where every house tells its own story. It's an architecture adapted to nature, not the other way around. Now that you have learned about the basic milestones, the tragedies and the flourishing of this place, I suggest you continue your walk. Let yourself flow through the stream and explore the surroundings at your own pace. Follow the details of the houses, see the noise of water, and think about all the generations that passed through here before you. From prehistoric settlers to medieval farmers to workers of textiles. Each of them added a small piece to the painting that makes up today's Temenice. Explore the surrounding landscape, maybe you'll stop by some of the remains of the old estates, or just think about the silence that today rules where the brick machines used to sound. Temenice is a place that does not force itself to be a noisy monument, but with its modesty and length tells the story of endurance and adaptation. Thank you for spending this short introduction to Temenice history. We wish you a pleasant and inspiring walk through this fascinating valley. Say goodbye to our guide and let the atmosphere of this unique place consume you. Have a good trip.