Tuklaty: Local History and a Spring Walk

Tuklaty lies on the southern edge of the Polabská nížina, by the Tuklatský potok. The village’s history includes the bell tower, the rectory, the Church of the Nativity of St John the Baptist and the school museum in the former rectory. It spans medieval and Baroque building phases as well as the history of the local school. In spring, a walk along the meanders of the Výmola adds a nature-focused theme. If you are planning a trip, you can distinguish between architectural history, the history of education and a seasonal activity.

Bell tower: a fortified stronghold and the history of surveying

The bell tower was originally a fortified stronghold built in the 14th century and was remodelled in the Baroque style in the 17th century. It therefore brings together a medieval origin and a later Baroque transformation. It also has a connection to the history of science: in 1819, the tower was used for the first historic survey of Czech municipalities and towns by the mathematician, physicist and astronomer František Ignác Kasián Halaška. Halaška used a maritime sextant. The bell tower is therefore of interest to travellers keen on cultural history not only for its building phases; the surveying history associated with it is also part of its story.

The rectory and the church: two building histories

The rectory in Tuklaty was built in 1729 by the priest Václav Pečený. The construction costs were paid by Duchess Marie Terezie Savojská of the House of Liechtenstein. Architecturally, the building is defined by a central section with wings arranged in the shape of a St Andrew’s cross. Its building history reflects the priest’s initiative, the duchess’s funding and the building’s distinctive form. The Church of the Nativity of St John the Baptist is a Baroque building erected after 1688 on the site of a church documented there since the 14th century. It was extensively reconstructed after 1989. While the year 1729 provides a specific reference point for the rectory, the church’s significant historical layers also include its earlier predecessor on the same site and its later reconstruction.

The school museum and the history of education

The school museum is housed in the former rectory and displays exhibits from the local school and from residents. A timeline begins in 1730 and is complemented by photographs from school chronicles. The chronicles have been kept in Tuklaty since 1855. The museum documents nearly three centuries of local educational history. The timeline and the photographs from the school chronicles provide different points of reference in time: one starts in 1730, while the others draw on records kept since 1855. In the former rectory, the village’s architectural history and history of education therefore stand side by side as distinct themes.

The Tuklatský potok and the Výmola

The Tuklatský potok flows into the Výmola beyond Tlustovousy. In spring, a scenic walk is possible along the meanders of the Výmola. The waterways’ connections are distinct: Tuklaty lies by the stream, while the seasonal walking opportunity follows the meanders of the river into which the stream flows. If you would like to include this walk in your travel plans, spring is the right time to visit. This adds a nature-focused theme to Tuklaty’s architectural and educational history without confusing the two waterways or their respective connections.

Discover more destinations: Krakovany, Plaňany, Ždánice, Klučov, Dobřichov, Nová Ves-Ohrada, Choťovice, Třebovle

For the wider travel overview: Okres Kolín.