Český dvůr House

Welcome to the heart of Beroun, specifically here at Hus Square. You're standing in front of a building called Český dvůr. If you look at it now, you will see a typical Baroque urban architecture representative in front of you, who tells stories from many centuries by his appearance and location in the square space. Feel the atmosphere of this place and think about how many people have passed through here and how many important messages have been transmitted in the past.

Let us now stop at how this house was created. The history of this place is linked to a new beginning after the great destruction. In the place where this home stands today, there were earlier buildings, which unfortunately burned down. In the early eighteenth century, precisely in the year seven hundred and seventeen, Samuel Vilim Presl of Švertsberk came and bought these burns. It would not be right to leave such a valuable place in the city centre empty, so he started planning a new construction.

Three years later, seven hundred and twenty years later, the new house was completed. At that time it was a modern and important object that was supposed to perform multiple functions at once. This year, the first Berun post office started working here and the inn was opened here. Imagine what it must have been like at the time people from around here met to exchange news or get some rest on the way. The post office was at that time a key hub of communication and the inn attracted travelers from different corners of Europe.

Now pay attention to the appearance of the building itself. Look at its facade and see the balance of the baroque style. Although we do not know the names of the particular builders, it is clear that the house should have been representative. Notice how the building fits into the rhythm of the square and how its size shows the importance of the Presla family. This family held the post master's office for many generations, until the year of the thousand eight hundred forty-five, when this hereditary office ended in the family. It's fascinating to think that one family has managed communications throughout the city for so long.

But if we look deeper in history, we'll find that Český dvůr was not just an ordinary post office house. Thanks to its strategic position it has become a stop for very important personalities. The inn in this house was not only intended for ordinary travellers, but offered accommodation to even the most powerful people of their time. Imagine the monarchs from different European countries living in these walls. Among them was, for example, the Swedish king Gustav the fourth, Austrian emperor Franz the first or monarch from East Alexander the first.

Try to imagine what an honor it must have been and responsibility for the inns when these men stopped by to determine the fate of the entire nations. The building thus became a silent witness to diplomatic journeys and historical changes in Europe. But the house wasn't just hosted by the King and the Emperor. In the year one thousand eight hundred sixty-six there was another interesting episode. At that time, the innkeeper's rooms were used to accommodate the headquarters of the Prussian army. This shows us how much this building was perceived as a strategic point in the city centre, suitable for military operations.

Now, I want to take you to a secret that's hidden deep beneath the surface where you're standing right now. While we see a Baroque house above the ground from the beginning of the eighteenth century, there is something much older under the right side of the building. There are gothic vaults. This means that even though the house in its present form was created after a fire, the foundations and lower parts go even deeper into the past, into the period of goth. It's a fascinating contrast between baroque elegance above the ground and a robust medieval stone deep beneath your feet.

It is this layery of history that makes the house a unique monument. It is a combination of communication, hospitality, political power and military strategy. In order to preserve this value for future generations, the building was officially declared a cultural monument in the year nine hundred and fifty-eight. Since then, her protection is a priority so that she does not come to lose sight of the first Beroun post office and all the famous guests who found shelter here.

Now, if you look at the building as a whole again, you see more than just an old house in the square. You see a place where the paths of kings and soldiers crossed, where letters were written that changed lives, and where the secrets of Gothic vaults lie beneath the surface. Český dvůr is the real symbol of Beroun and its history is inseparable from the history of the whole city.

Thank you for stopping by this beautiful house with me. I hope you're interested in stories about postmasters, monarchs and secret cellars. I'm going to invite you to explore the city center again. Go through the rest of Hus Square and see how history intersects with modern life. I wish you a pleasant journey and a wonderful experience in Beroun. Goodbye.