Kittels house

Kittels House (Kittelův dům) is a historic timber residence in Krásná, a village that forms part of the Pěnčín municipality in the Jablonec nad Nisou district, in the Liberec Region of the Czech Republic. Standing at house number 10, it ranks among the best-known heritage sites on the Czech side of the Jizera Mountains.

Who was Kittel, and why was this house built?

The house was built in the mid-18th century by Johann Josef Antonín Eleazar Kittel, a North Bohemian physician and folk healer who earned enormous local trust as a doctor across the border region. His two-storey, fully timber-framed home served a double purpose: it was a family residence and, at the same time, a working sanatorium, with rooms set aside for consultations and a small ward where patients could stay during treatment. A pharmacy also operated on the premises, run by Johann's brother, Ignác Kašpar Antonín Kittel — together the buildings functioned almost like a self-contained medical outpost serving people from both sides of the nearby border.

The house was added to the Czech list of protected cultural monuments in 1963, but its condition kept deteriorating over the following decades. A rescue restoration began in 2004 and stretched on for fifteen years, since the timber structure had fallen into such disrepair that it was at real risk of collapse. The work was completed toward the end of the 2010s, bringing the building back to something close to its historic appearance.

What can you see inside?

Today the restored house operates as a museum dedicated to Kittel and the history of the surrounding area, while also housing a tourist information centre. The exhibits cover the physician's unusual medical practice, everyday life inside a healer's household, and the wider story of Krásná and the Jizera Mountains. The building also includes exhibition space used for cultural events and community gatherings, so it works both as a heritage site and as a living hub for the village.

How do you get to Krásná?

Krásná sits in a scenic, hilly stretch of the Jizera Mountains, close to the German and Polish borders. Visitor parking is located roughly a hundred metres from the house, next to a baroque rectory and the Church of St Joseph — both are protected monuments in their own right and pair naturally with a visit to Kittels House. The surrounding countryside is well suited to hiking, making Krásná a good base for a full day exploring the trails of the Jizera Mountains.

When is the best time to visit?

The museum and information centre are open year-round, though as with most mountain villages in the region, spring through early autumn is the most comfortable window, when trails are dry and the weather favours walking around the area. Winter draws visitors looking for snow and quiet, though some services may run on a reduced schedule.

Frequently asked questions

What was Kittels House like before restoration? It was a neglected timber house once used by a physician and healer, in such poor condition that it risked collapsing; a full restoration ran from 2004 to roughly 2019.

Who built the house, and for what purpose? Johann Josef Antonín Eleazar Kittel built it in the mid-18th century as a combined residence, patient sanatorium, and pharmacy run by his brother.

What is inside the house today? A museum covering Kittel and local history, a tourist information centre, and exhibition and community spaces.

Are there other heritage sites nearby? Yes — a baroque rectory and the Church of St Joseph stand right next to it, about a hundred metres from the house's parking area.