Šumice – The Trchalík Homestead

The Trchalík Homestead complex of folk architecture buildings is recognised as a heritage site. It is privately owned and parts of it are still inhabited. The heritage protection covers three buildings: the historical barn, the “výminek” and the cart shed. The historical wooden barn is the oldest surviving part of the homestead. It was built in the first half of the 19^th century from oak wood and features a thatched roof which has been recently renovated. The barn was mainly used to store unthreshed grain. The “výminek” is from the early 20^th century and was permanently inhabited until the end of the 20^th century. There are two rooms on the ground floor and a granary on the first floor. Under the roof, various herbs and legumes were hung to dry. The most recent of the protected buildings is the cart shed, dating to the early 20^th century. This is where large items of agricultural equipment were stored, in particular various types of wagons. Hay was stored in the attic. Behind the barn is the still-working horse engine, originally used to power agricultural machinery (and in particular the thresher) before the village was connected to the electricity grid. The complex also features a functional replica of a fruit drying house in the garden. The original drying house was demolished in the 1980s. The current structure is an accurate copy built according to surviving documentation, including a cauldron for cooking blackthorn.