Zvonička (Čaková) Belfry

Welcome to our stop today. You are facing a small and extremely charming historical monument, which is a wooden bell tower in the village of Chakova. When you look around you, at first glance, you will be intrigued by her humble but very noble resemblance. You see the calm atmosphere of this place in Bruntal County, where this building has been the heart of the local landscape for centuries and reminds us of the old times of our ancestors. It is an officially protected monument, which is registered in the Central List of Cultural Monuments of the Czech Republic, which only confirms its huge importance to our national heritage. Let us now together imagine the story of this extraordinary building, which contains traces of human art and deep godliness.

The creation of this building dates back to seventeen hundred twenty-four. The original creators, whose names unfortunately have not been preserved until today and remain unknown as well as the historical personalities associated with this place, have built this tiny baroque rain structure with great care. At that time, the region experienced a period of development and the folk carpenters were able to create a work that resisted the test of time. The wood, as the main building material, was typical in this area and guaranteed that the construction would naturally blend with the surrounding environment. The people of the village needed to announce important events, to call the people to prayer or to warn against danger, and thus there was a need to have their own bell tower. Her fates were linked to the daily life of the local people who loved to care for her generations after generations.

Now pay attention to the architecture itself and try to see the details you have right in front of you. This whole tiny, dusty building is built on a solid brick suspect that protects it from moisture and ensures its stability. The building has an interesting prismatic shape and on top of it there is a manger roof. If you look more closely at the roof cover, you will see a carefully folded shindle, a traditional wooden material that gives the whole building an unmistakable character. It is an absolutely typical and wonderful example of old rural wooden architecture in our territory.

Let's move on to the inner layout and other unique elements that make this building so special. The unique feature of this bell tower is its inner structure. It consists of four solid wooden columns, on which is a tent roof, which has been killed by the shingles already mentioned. This solution required great carpentry skill, because the whole weight of the top rests on this slim but incredibly solid internal skeleton. There are 17 hundred and fifty-four years of age on the corruhvi, which is part of the upper part of the construction. This year probably reminds us of an important repair or modification that the construction has undergone at that time, giving us further tangible evidence of the long history of this place.

During its long duration, this bell has also experienced moving times that have forever left a mark in her story. Between a thousand and nine hundred and thirty-nine and a thousand and nine hundred forty-five, World War II raged. This dark period has also hit remote places and has brought with it victims in the form of metal for war purposes. The original bell had to be given, which meant a great loss to the people of the village, for the voice that accompanied them was silent in good and bad times. But right after the war, a thousand nine hundred forty-five, they showed their strength and determination. They did not leave the bell of fate and ensured the acquisition of a new bell, which again sounded the surrounding landscape and gave this place its original meaning and soul.

Stop for a moment, close your eyes and try to perceive the silence interrupted only by the snoring of the wind in the surrounding trees. You can imagine how many human destinies, joys and worries this small wooden structure has experienced. You're standing in front of a piece of living history that has endured centuries, wars and regime transformations. It is a reminder of how important it is to protect our cultural heritage for the coming generations.

We hope you enjoyed the tour of this place and that you are taking a strong experience from Chaka. Before you leave here, take a walk around the neighborhood, take a breath of fresh air and let the quiet atmosphere of the country lie on you. Thank you for listening to our guide, we wish you a happy journey on your next tour of history and see you at some of the other interesting sights.