Dům U Bílého koníčka House

Welcome to the historical center of Opava. Right now, you're standing in front of a remarkable Renaissance townhouse with a familiar name at the White Hobby. Raise your eyes and let the atmosphere of this place in the Lower Square take hold. The house before you is a silent witness to the centuries that shaped the face of the entire city. When you look at his facade, you see the elegance and strength of old construction that resisted the trials of time.

Let's go back to the end of the 16th century. In this period, the town square has undergone a great transformation. The original wooden houses, which used to stand here and were often exposed to fire hazards, had to be released instead of stronger stone and brick structures. That's when this house was built as a modern residence for wealthy townspeople. He became part of a new, safer and more representative city face.

If you're looking at the building in more detail, focus your attention on its building elements. Although the creators of this work remained forgotten over the centuries, their work speaks for them. On the ground floor of the house there is an impressive mazhaus, the main hall which in the past served business purposes. When you examine its inner beauty, notice the wonderful details of the stucco ribs and mirrors on the ceiling. It is a typical and very valuable element of the construction industry at the time, which, fortunately, has been preserved until today as a reminder of the craftsmanship of our ancestors. In these ground areas, it used to be a lively ruckus, because there was a popular wine man, where people went to rest and talk.

Now take your thoughts upstairs. In the past, there were no ordinary living rooms. These areas on the floor were regularly used by rural nobles when they needed to have their facilities right in the centre of events during their stay in the city. Air and spacious halls provided the noble guests with the necessary comfort. Among those whose fates interconnected with this house were prominent personalities such as Eva Hostivařská z Kostelce, Panský ze Střežetic, Jakub Roden z Držkovic, Jan Zacpal or later Johann Demel. In seventeen hundred and seventy, the building was transferred to the property of the Demel family, which started another interesting chapter in its existence. The family of pickers brought a new life into the house and adapted it to its needs without losing its weight.

Stop for a moment at one of the most unique attractions you will not find elsewhere in Opava. Dům U Bílého koníčka is the only house in the whole city on which the original home signs have been preserved. It was these signs that used to serve instead of the numbers that describe people in the streets. When you imagine the excitement at that time when people were looking for a house by the symbol on the facade, you find yourself in a whole different world.

But the story of this house didn't end in deep history. He continued until the new millennium. In the year two thousand and five the building underwent a large and very demanding reconstruction. Experts and craftsmen have put a great deal of effort into bringing back ancient beauty in full force. Their work was even awarded the prestigious Fad of the Year award in the category of reconstruction. Today, this building is proudly protected as an important cultural monument of the Czech Republic and reminds us how important it is to take care of our heritage.

I believe you were intrigued by the tour of this special place. Now I invite you to explore the streets of Opava, discover other hidden corners and perceive the genius of the entire historical center. Thank you for your attention, so long for further wandering history.