dům Romance Other

Welcome to the heart of Karlovy Vary. Right now, you're standing in front of a building that, with its appearance, stands out from the surrounding pit and immediately transmits you to another time. Look at this impressive house we now know as Romance. It is a building that tells a story with its face about the desire for beauty and how architecture was perceived in times long past. When you look at it, you may feel that you are in some ancient city of northern Europe, and that is exactly the impression that should have been made.

Let us now stop at how this building was created and why it is standing here. The House of Romance, which was called Württemberger Hof at the time of its creation, saw the light of the world in a thousand eight hundred ninety-eight. At that time, this spa area was in full bloom and there were buildings to celebrate wealth and prestige. The author of the project was architect Karl Haybäck, who decided to take a very bold and unusual approach. Instead of following fashion trends back then, he decided on a style that was already considered old-fashioned, or rather a return to tradition.

Now pay attention to the architecture itself. If you look at the facade details, you will notice that the building combines elements of late German Gothic and Renaissance. It's a very interesting contrast, because by the year one thousand eight hundred ninety-eight these periods were long gone, but the architect deliberately chose this ancient style to give the building the character of historical stability and nobility. Look at the facade and see the atmosphere these shapes create. It's an architecture that's not just supposed to be functional, but it's supposed to be particularly flowery and impressive.

When you look down at the main inputs, notice one very specific detail, which is the real jewel of this building. You see that iron awning above the terrace? This glass roof, which lies on forged consoles, was set in the year of a thousand nine hundred. It comes from the shop of the manufacturer Josef Both. At the time, it was the peak of craft art. Imagine how this awning protected the hotel's guests from rain or bright sun while they observed the excitement in Karlovy Vary streets. It's a fine connection between a heavy stone structure and the lightness of metal and glass.

But this house was not in empty space. It's fascinating to realize what was in this place before. The Romance building was built on the site of two older houses in Baroque style. These former houses were built here after a major disaster, namely the great fire of a thousand seven hundred fifty-nine, which destroyed a large part of the city. This shows us how the city gradually changed and how each new generation of builders brought different visions of beauty. From baroque simplicity and renewal after the fire we moved to a monumental hotel, which was supposed to be a symbol of luxury.

The key is also to know that the building has changed its functions and names over the years. It served primarily as a hotel, a place where visitors from all over the world sought rest and health. At a later time it was called Pushkin Spa House, which only confirms that this place attracted people from different parts of Europe and was associated with the names of prominent personalities, although specific stories of individual guests were lost in oblivion over time.

One of the biggest attractions is the contrast of time. Imagine that in the year one thousand eight hundred ninety-eight, this building was perceived as something that deliberately looked old. It's called anachronism, something that's placed outside of its time. Architect Haybäck wanted to create a sense of continuity as if the building had been standing here for hundreds of years, even though it was brand new at the time. This uniqueness was awarded much later, namely in the year one thousand nine hundred ninety one, when the building was officially declared a cultural monument. This step recognised her artistic and historical contribution to the whole region of Karlovy Vary.

Today, a tradition continues in the building that goes back to the time of its creation. When you look at a building, don't just remember it as a pile of stone and glass, but as a living organism that survived regime changes, war and economic crises. It is a testament to the time when the soul entered the architecture and every detail, from the designed holder to the shape of the window, was carefully thought through.

Now that you've learned about the origin and details of the House of Romance, I suggest you stay for a while and let your eyes discover other nuances. Try to imagine what Karlovy Vary looked like in the year of a thousand devistset, when the glass roof was just planted and the hotel welcomed its first guests. Feel the contrast between the silent rock and the dynamic of the city around you.

Let's close this stop slowly now. I hope you are interested in this short trip to history and that you are now seeing dům Romance in a new light. It is a place where Gothic, Renaissance and industrial art meet in the late nineteenth century in one harmonious whole.

I'm asking you to explore the area again. Karlovy Vary has another story hidden in every corner and every other building you meet can be as fascinating as this one. We wish you a pleasant continuation of your journey along our spa streets. Look forward to another discovery of the beauty of this city. Goodbye.