Venkovský dům (Heřmanovice, 1000147083) House

Welcome to Hermanovice. You are standing in front of just one of those houses that make up the true soul of this region and allow you to look into the long-lost way of life of our ancestors. In front of your eyes is country house number two hundred ninety. At first glance, you may find it a simple, quiet building, but believe me, in every wooden edge, in every beam and in every detail of its appearance, there is a hidden story of several generations of people living here, working and building their destiny in the arms of the Jesenice mountains.

Let's go back together to when everything started. The roots of this place go deep into the past, specifically to the end of the eighteenth century. Around seven hundred and fifty to eight hundred, the first grafted building started to be built here, which was absolutely typical of the rural architecture in this area. It was a foundation on which the entire history of this house was later built. Later, in the nineteenth century, approximately between eight hundred thirty and eight hundred eighty, the house was rebuilt and completed in the form that we still recognize at its core. At that time, it became a classic example of the Eastern supremacy type, which was absolutely essential and characteristic for these mountains.

But now take a closer look at what is right in front of you. Notice how the house is built. It's a ground-floor building that's built on low suspicion. This foundation gives it stability while gently raising it above the very surface of the earth. The main body of the house has a rectangular plan, which is very practical and typical for this type of rural residence. Watch the wooden walls. These are grafted structures that were the best option at the time to protect against the cold and wind that often rolls over these mountains.

Raise your eyes to the top of the house. See that saddle roof? It's covered with a material called eternit, which is a later addition. But what should really interest you is the house shield. Look at the lattes that wrap it. It's a painted lattes that create an interesting rhythm on the facade. And now look down to the bottom of this shield. See those decorative arches? This is precisely the detail that gives the house its own face and shows that even rural people were able to express their appetite for beauty and craftsmanship through these tiny but important elements.

There's a shed right near the house. It is also rainy and forms a whole with the house. Around nineteen hundred were completed as part of the entire economic complex. Think of it as one connected survival unit - a house for people and a shed for everything that was necessary for the rural economy.

When you look at this whole building, try to imagine how it lived inside. This house is one of the so-called chamber-sty types. This means that the space was divided very practically and according to the needs at the time. In one part there was a residential part with chambers where food and household-important things were kept and in another part there was a barn for cattle. At that time, it was not possible to separate a man's life from work and from animals which were absolutely necessary for each farm. Everything was connected to one functional and logical whole.

Now I must draw your attention to one thing that may be a little sad for history lovers. If you look at the details, you might feel that something isn't exactly what it should be. In two thousand and nine, the house went through a major reconstruction. Unfortunately, this work has not been done as skillfully as the historical monument deserves. This renewal damaged the original appearance and the genuine, genuine authenticity that the house radiated over centuries. It is a reminder of how hard it is to protect history and how easily we can lose the true soul of the place if we look at it only with our eyes, not with deep respect for the original craft.

Despite these imperfections, this house is still an important witness to the past. It is a living proof of how people in Jeseníky adapted their housing to the needs of their everyday life. Allow yourself to drift through the atmosphere of this place. Take a look around, feel the silence and try to reconstruct in your spirit the times when the sound of the axe returned to the wood and the smoke was floating from the chimney to the sky. I wish you a pleasant walk around the history of Hømanovice and enjoy the further discovery of this beautiful region.