Dům U černého orla (Plzeň) House

Welcome to the heart of Pilsen, the historic center of the city, where in every stone there is a story from ancient times. You're standing in front of the Black Eagle House, which is part of the east side of Republic Square. If you look at it now, you will see an elegant two-storey townhouse, which, in its face, connects the different periods of our history. It's a building that, with its purity and its freshness, attracts the attention of anyone who passes by and carries the weight of hundreds of years of history.

Let us now come together to see how this house was created and who it was actually inhabited by over time. The core of this building will take us very far, probably until the beginning of the seventeenth century. Imagine Pilsen at the time, when the city was evolving and expanding. The first important owners we associate with this place were the Stehliks family from Chenkov, whose ownership began in the year six hundred and seventeen. It was a time when houses in the city centre served not only as housing, but often as places of craft and trade.

Now pay attention to the architecture itself, which is right in front of you. If you look at the facade, you will see the result of a large renovation that was completed in two thousand eighteen. The facade is very interesting today because it combines elements of the New Romanesque and Neo-Renaissance style. It is a kind of dialogue between different epoch that gives the house a unique character. Please take a look above, towards the top of the house. Notice the place under the crown ledge. Right here is a very fine detail you could easily overlook if you were just rushing around. It's a stucco frieze, which is kind of a decorative belt, which is decorated with lion heads. These lion heads are a symbol of strength and dignity and provide the building with a certain whim of nobility.

When we think about who lived and worked here, we have to mention the personalities who left their mark in this house. In addition to the already mentioned Stehlers, namely Bartholomew Stehík the Elder, Jan Petr Vodička, who was the mayor, appeared here in the year seven hundred and five. Imagine the weight and significance of this function at the time and the life that had to take place in these walls. Later, the name of William Peitner joined the house. The history of this house is not only about the people, but also about the activities that have taken place here. An interesting detail is, for example, the fact that the house in the past had a malting plant. Imagine the specific smell of malt that had to fill the space around the house at some point. However, this production gradually ceased and in the year one thousand eight hundred fourteen the operation of the malting plant was definitively terminated.

Now let's think about how the house was changing in time. Although we see newer elements today, the house underwent a Baroque reconstruction in the eighteenth century, which gave it a very fashionable and representative look at the time. Later, a romantic character, which is typical of the period when people began to rediscover the beauty of old styles and seek inspiration in them. It's this level of activity that makes the Black Eagle house such a fascinating object. It's basically a stone book where each chapter represents a different century and a different taste in architecture.

Note also that this house is not just an ordinary private building. Since the year nine hundred fifty-eight has been officially registered as a cultural monument. That means the state has recognised its irreplaceable value for our ancestors and culture. Protection as a cultural monument ensured that even in subsequent repairs its essence and historical truths were preserved. When you look at it today, you see the result of careful care, which culminated in the year two thousand and eighteen, when the complete renovation was completed so that the house could become the decoration of Plzeň Square again.

You might be wondering why this house is so important in the context of the entire square. It is precisely because it naturally fits into the eastern front of buildings and connects different styles. While some houses are strictly in one style, this one here is braver. The combination of neo-Romanesque and neo-Renaissance elements creates a dynamic image that is not boring, but also acts harmonically. It is a reminder that the city is a living organism that is constantly changing, adapting and developing.

Stop for a moment and just feel the atmosphere of this place. Imagine how many generations of people around this house have passed, how many conversations have taken place here and how many changes in Pilsen these walls have been watching. From the time of the Stehlice family to the mayor of Vodice to today's visitors who, like you, are looking for clues of the past in architecture. It is a fascinating feeling to know that you are standing in front of a building that has survived for centuries and still stands in full glory.

Now that you've become familiar with the main features of the Black Eagle House, I suggest you observe the facade details for a while and try to reconstruct the path from the original 17th century core to today's renovated appearance. Notice how lion heads on the surface guard the entrance to the house and how the colors of the facade match the surrounding surroundings of the square.

Thank you for a short journey together through the history of this beautiful house. I hope that this information has enriched you and that you are now seeing the Black Eagle House in a new light. The Pilsen Center has many other hidden treasures waiting for your discovery. I invite you to another walk through the city, explore other streets and discover other monuments that tell the story of our city. I wish you a pleasant rest of the day and many other beautiful experiences while exploring Pilsen. Goodbye.