Dům čp. 91 House

Welcome to the heart of Cologne. Right now you're standing in front of one of the very interesting houses on the southwest side of Charles Square. Take a look at this corner building that welcomes you with its distinctive appearance. It's a storey townhouse that tells a long story about how the city evolved and changed over the centuries. When you look at it, you don't see just one structure, but the result of the connection between the two original houses that stood here a long time ago. Today, this object is protected as a cultural monument, because it has traces of various building stages that document the history of the whole area.

Now let's just dive into the depths of time to understand exactly what happened here. The foundation of this place dates back to the second half of the 14th century. It was at that time that the original Gothic houses were created that formed the core of today's construction. Imagine what this square looked like in the Middle Ages when there was a completely different atmosphere and rhythm of life. But history isn't just about building, it's about testing with fire. Something dramatic happened here in the seventeenth century. Jan Michal Baralič z Bihače bought six hundred and fifty-one land in the year, which at that time was basically just burned. In this place of looming debris he built an early Baroque house, which gave the building a new face and a new energy.

Now please pay attention to the architecture and details that you can see right in front of you. Look up at the front of the house. Notice two massive shields with decorative wave shapes called volute shields. These elements are very characteristic and supply the house with its unique silhouette. In these shields are located niche which was originally intended for statues of saints. If you look carefully at the facade, you will realize that the house went through another major repair in the year one thousand seven hundred thirty-four. That's when the city was hit by a big fire and the building had to be repaired again. The builder Josef Jedlička was invited to this work, who prepared plans for house renewal.

Speaking of details that you can see, we have to mention statues. In the year one thousand seven hundred thirty-six, statues of St. Joseph and St. Charles were created for the front of the house. These figures have long guarded the house and passers from the height of their nines. But it is important to know that if you do not see them in anything today, it is not forgotten, it is taking care of them. In the year two thousand and sixteen, these original statues were removed because of their damage to preserve them for future generations. They are now safely stored in the Lapidarium, a place designed to preserve stone monuments.

Now let's think about the people who lived and worked in this house. In addition to the mentioned Jan Michal Baralič, other important names are associated with the house. Among them was Karel Václav Lysander z Ehrenfeldu. Later, however, the house became home to the Petschek family. In the nineteenth century he founded his family home Moses Petschek. Isidor, Julius and Ignác Petschek worked with him. It is fascinating to think how many different axes, ambitions and family stories have intersected in these walls. Each brought his own energy into the house and helped shape his identity within the Cologne township.

And now I'm going to lead you to one real interesting thing that you may miss at first sight, but that is absolutely crucial to understanding the age of this place. Please move your view down to the ground floor corner. Notice that there is a broken arc of the arch. This is not just an ordinary architectural element. This is a rare remnant from the second half of the 14th century. It's a real piece of the Middle Ages that survived fires, reconstructions, and alternation of owners. It is fascinating that while the upper parts of the house reflect baroque and later influences, down in the corners you can still see a Gothic trail that is over 600 years old.

One more interesting thing for lovers of names and symbols. If you moved in time to the beginning of the seventeenth century, you'd probably be looking for a house under a different name. At that time, this object was known as The Black Eagle. Imagine the time when the houses were netnumber numbers, but they were recognized by these figurative names, which often referred to signs placed above the entrance.

So this house is much more than just an ordinary building made of stone and mortar. It's a layered history archive. From the Gothic divide to the baroque rise, to the tragic fires, to the period of the major families who sought their port. All these layers form a unique character that you now perceive.

I hope this short trip in time helped you see this house in a new light. Now you know that behind every arch and every shield is a story from another century. Now I invite you to look around in peace, feel the atmosphere of Charles Square and then continue to discover other hidden treasures of Cologne. Thank you for your attention and I wish you a pleasant further journey through town.