Dům čp. 134 (Plzeň) House

Welcome to the heart of Pilsen, the historic center of the city, where history touches every stone. You are standing in front of the house with the number hundred and thirty-four, which forms part of the southern series of buildings in the Republic Square. At first glance, it may appear to you as an elegant townhouse that fits into the overall rhythm of the square, but behind its walls is one of the largest treasures of Pilsen architecture. Look at its appearance and perceive the atmosphere of this place which connects several centuries of urban life.

Now let's stop at how this house came into being and what its historical context is. The core of this building takes us deep into the past, namely around a thousand five hundred years. Imagine Pilsen at that time, during the late Gothic period, when the city grew and flourished. It was during this period that the house was built and generations of Pilsner lived here ever since. It is fascinating to think that while the world was changing around us, the currencies were changing and the wars were coming and going, this core of the house remained a silent witness to history.

Now pay attention to architecture and what you can see right in front of you. When you look at the front of the house, you see a facade that dates back to the late nineteenth century. More precisely, its present form is the result of significant adjustments from the years one thousand eight hundred seventy-two and one thousand eight hundred ninety. Note how this facade reflects the aesthetics of its time when the city was modernised and the buildings were given a new, representative look. But it's just an outer circle. The real secret is inside.

If we could get past these walls at this point, we would find that the house has undergone several reconstructions that have left traces of different architectural styles in it. The most attentive element in the interior is preserved rolled vaults with lunettes, which can be found on the ground floor. These vaults are proof of the antiquities of the building and remind us of the time when the houses were built with regard to long life and strength. On the ground floor, in the year two thousand twenty-two partial modifications were made to the premises intended for commercial activity, so that the house could perform its function even in modern times, but the basic historical essence remained.

Let's now move on to the people who were closely connected to this place. The history of the house is confused with the fate of various personalities. By the year one thousand six hundred twenty-three, this house belonged to a family of merchants of the Volphs. Imagine the ruckus in the streets at that time, the smell of goods in the Volf store and the everyday life of craftsmen in the city centre. Later, names like Mikuláš Mirobell, František Seeblumer or Václav Nigrin appear in connection with the house. Although we may not know every detail of their lives today, their presence here has left a trail that has helped the house survive for centuries.

And now we come to the most interesting, secret that makes this house unique throughout the city. Note that Pilsen has many beautiful buildings, but this house is special. It belongs only to two buildings throughout the city, where the original Gothic residential areas were preserved. That's really rare. Over the centuries, most of the houses have been so fundamentally rebuilt that the original Gothic core has disappeared. Here, however, we can talk about the real survival of a thousand and five centuries. It's like having in your hands a rare jewel that survived all the storms of history. The idea that people lived and slept in these rooms over five years ago gives this place a depth that we don't normally find.

When you're standing in front of this building today, you see a synthesis of several éres. From the Gothic core of the beginning of the sixteenth century, to the Baroque and Classicist layers, to the final form of the facade from the end of the nineteenth century. It's basically a layered record of Pilsen's history in one single building. Every modification, whether the one from the year one thousand eight hundred seventy-two or one from the year one thousand eight hundred ninety, added a new story to the house, but never destroyed the most precious, which is the original core.

Allow yourself to take a moment to perceive the peace and quiet of this place, even if you are surrounded by the excitement of a modern city. Try to imagine what the Republic Square looked like when this house was a new building, and how the faces of the people who walked past it changed. This house is proof that history is not only in books, but is present in stones, in vaults, and in walls surrounding us.

I hope you are interested in this short trip to the past, and that you will not now view house number 140 as just an ordinary building, but as a unique witness to Pilsen history. We now invite you to explore the beauty of our inner city. Take a look around the alleys, pay attention to the details of the other houses and let them guide you through curiosity. Thank you for spending some time with us at this monument. We wish you a pleasant continuation of your journey along Pilsen and enjoy all the beauty this city offers you. Goodbye.