Kuří

Did Oj\u00ed\u0159 of Ku\u0159\u00ed ever imagine his name would echo through centuries, tied to this quaint village? We stand today in Ku\u0159\u00ed, a small village nestled west of \u0158\u00ed\u010dany, in the picturesque landscape of the Czech Republic. Ku\u0159\u00ed, whose name whispers tales of hidden valleys and perhaps the calls of quail, has a rich history interwoven with the larger narrative of Prague and Bohemia. The first documented mention of Ku\u0159\u00ed dates back to 1309, a testament to Oj\u00ed\u0159’s testimony. Back then, Ku\u0159\u00ed, with its five farmsteads and a fortified manor, belonged to the Holy Chapter. Later, in 1349, it served as the prebend of scholastic Zdeslav before returning to the All Saints Chapter. Sadly, no remnants of the original manor house remain. Ku\u0159\u00ed’s ownership changed hands multiple times throughout history. From 1420, it fell under Prague’s control, then under the highest burgrave of Prague Castle. In the 15th century, the Buzics, lords of Valdek, held it, followed by a succession of owners until 1577 when the Smi\u0159ick\u00fd family acquired it. They incorporated Ku\u0159\u00ed into the Uh\u0159\u00edn\u011bv\u00e9s estate in 1579. This estate, including Ku\u0159\u00ed, was transferred to Karl of Lichtenstein in 1623 and subsequently sold to Maria Theresa in 1751. Life in Ku\u0159\u00ed wasn’t always peaceful. The Pitkovick\u00fd stream, also known as Vinn\u00fd, often flooded parts of the village, with seven significant floods between the 1970s and 1980s. The most devastating was the 1987 flood. In a bizarre turn of events, Ku\u0159\u00ed experienced an extraordinary hailstorm in 1972. Within 20 minutes, 80 to 100 centimeters of hail rained down, causing widespread damage and destroying crops. Education played an important role in Ku\u0159\u00ed’s development. Formal schooling began modestly in 1906 in a rented villa. A proper two-classroom schoolhouse was later built on the site of a former customs house and consecrated in 1909. This building, also used by the Sokol and volunteer firefighters, served as a school until 1968. Today, it stands as a community building, a testament to the village’s commitment to education. At the heart of Ku\u0159\u00ed, the village square, “Na N\u00e1vsi”, you’ll find a small chapel. This chapel evolved from a simple wayside shrine erected in the 16th century. The area around the shrine was paved with tiles from the local brickyard which operated until 1900. In the 19th century, a small bell tower was added. The chapel took its present form in the early 20th century. Throughout its history, the chapel faced adversity. Its bell was requisitioned in World War I, replaced, and then taken again in 1941. Later, both the bell and a statue of the Virgin Mary were stolen. Yet, the spirit of Ku\u0159\u00ed prevailed. The chapel underwent extensive renovation in 1998. Ku\u0159\u00ed, a village seemingly tucked away from the world, has endured floods, hailstorms, and changing ownership. It remains a testament to the resilience of its community. From Oj\u00ed\u0159’s testimony to the children who once filled the small schoolhouse, Ku\u0159\u00ed’s story is a quiet but powerful reminder of the passage of time and the enduring spirit of small villages.