Krakovany: Protestant Heritage and Local History

Protestant Heritage and Historic Local Landmarks

Krakovany’s Protestant heritage includes the protected complex of the Tolerance Prayer House. It comprises the prayer house, the Protestant parsonage at No. 34, the perimeter wall, and the associated grounds. The Protestant cemetery was established next to the Protestant congregation in 1805; a mortuary was built in 1880. The two dates, 75 years apart, refer first to the establishment of the cemetery and later to the construction of the mortuary.

Sandstone Boundary Stone and Local Interpretations

The sandstone boundary stone in Krakovany originally marked the cadastral area of Krakovany. According to local tradition, the points engraved on it represent a knife and fork; two other engraved shapes may be hearts. The interpretation as hearts is uncertain. The boundary marking describes the stone’s original function; the motifs are interpretations of its engravings. The knife-and-fork reading is part of local tradition, while the heart shape is only a possibility.

Farmsteads and Changing Uses of Buildings

Farmstead No. 28 has a very ornate gate; the farm’s granary dates to 1832. The date refers to the granary, not the gate. The farmstead is not open to visitors. The former synagogue in Krakovany has a different building and usage history. It was probably built in 1863 and closed in 1906. Originally, it also served the religious needs of Jewish families from surrounding communities. Since then, it has been used as a storage facility and shed and is not open to visitors. The granary reflects the storage of provisions, while the ornate gate reflects elaborate design; both details show different aspects of the farmstead.

Buildings, Remembrance, and Wartime History

The architecturally notable former Sokol House in Krakovany dates from 1930 and was converted into a cinema after 1950. The conversion therefore took place considerably later than the year it was built. The Krakovany war memorial commemorates those who fell in the First World War and was ceremonially unveiled on May 1, 1921. The German first-class radar station KORALLE near Krakovany and Uhlířská Lhota was built from late May 1944 to May 6, 1945. Chronologically, the unveiling of the memorial in 1921 predates the Sokol House’s construction in 1930; the radar station dates to the 1944/45 construction phase, while the conversion of the house took place only after 1950.

The Krakovanská lípa

The Krakovanská lípa adds a natural feature to the architectural landmarks. It is still growing today; a 2009 survey recorded a height of 27 meters and a trunk circumference of 256 centimeters. Both figures refer to the time of that survey and are not current measurements. Height and trunk circumference are two different measurements recorded during the same survey.

Discover more destinations: Ohaře, Jestřabí Lhota, Veletov, Kouřim, Ždánice, Třebovle, Plaňany, Konárovice

For the broader travel overview: Kolín District.