Holašovice – Rural Baroque

The skill and creativity of past rural builders are reflected in the richly decorated façades of the houses with wide volute gables. These are often adorned with inscriptions or motifs that indicate the profession of the farm owner.

The economic prosperity of Czech villages in the 19th century, driven by agricultural and political reforms along with other factors, triggered an unprecedented construction boom and the reconstruction of mostly timbered rural homesteads. In the almost entirely masonry Holašovice, this building wave was expressed roughly between 1840 and 1885 through the rebuilding of previously wooden barns. The main motivation was the desire of the increasingly wealthy and emancipated peasant class to display their status, which led to the creation of the unique phenomenon known as rural Baroque, unparalleled in Europe. Holašovice are the most representative and best preserved example of this remarkable traditional folk architecture, and their current form documents the appearance of a typical South Bohemian village around the mid-19th century with a strong sense of place.

The oldest structures are two late medieval granaries from the early 19th century. The goal of heritage institutions, state authorities, and local administration is to preserve Holašovice as a normal, living village with mostly permanently inhabited homesteads.