Zvonice (Olšovec) Belfry

Welcome to our stop today. You are now facing a beautiful historical monument, which is a stand-alone Baroque bell tower in Olšovec. Raise your head and look around you. This building is located right in the centre of the village, on the very bank of the stream, which bears the name Freeznice. When you look at her, you see a solid and dignified building that has been the heart of this entire village for 100 years. Her presence gives this place a peaceful and festive atmosphere, so you can perceive a piece of living history that breathes upon you from every stone.

Now let's look into the past to see how this monument came to be. Her story began in a thousand seven hundred and seventeen. Back then, this baroque bell tower was built from a quarry stone. The names of its builders may not have been registered in history, but that does not make any difference to their work. The construction was created as a useful and essential element for the local population, for which it served to measure time, to report joyful and sad events and to protect against danger. Fifteen years later, in the year one thousand seven hundred thirty-two, this tower received a great gift in the form of a new bell. On this bell were engraved Latin inscriptions that resembled St. Mary and St. John. For decades, the bell has served its purpose faithfully and has become an integral part of the lives of all local people.

Now pay attention to the architecture itself and the details that you see before you at this very moment. This two-storey plastered building has a plan of a square whose corners are skillfully cut. Look up at the roof. You can see its manger shape at the very top carrying an octave lantern. Although the builders of this building remained unknown, they left us a valuable proof of baroque folk architecture. If you look at the facade a little bit closer, notice the nothingness above the main entrance. In the past, the Renaissance statue of St. Barbara stood in this niche, which symbolically protected the whole building. Stop for a moment and see the harmony of shapes and honest craft that people left behind 300 years ago.

This construction is also associated with moved fates that took place in much more recent times. If we move to the twentieth century, to the moving years of nineteen hundred thirty-nine to nineteen hundred forty-five, we will come across a dark chapter in history. During World War II, a rare bell from a thousand seven hundred thirty-two was forcibly removed for war purposes. He was then taken to Prague to Manina, where he was to be melted for military purposes. But the bell survived the war and was ceremonially returned to our village after it was completed. The people of Olšovka have thus regained their voice, which has spoken to them for generations.

Today, this alsovec bell tower is a strictly protected cultural heritage of the Czech Republic. It represents an absolutely exceptional proof of baroque folk architecture in the entire Transrov district. Her walls carry the memory of hundreds of people who walked past her, nursed her and defended her in times of confusion. It has humbled time, and today we can stand here and admire its timeless beauty.

Our stop today is slowly coming to an end. I believe the sight of this ancient building has enriched you. When you set out for more wandering around, remember the stories that the people of Olšovce had and the bell that was able to come back from their warways. Thank you for your attention, I wish you the rest of the day and I look forward to seeing you at another interesting place.