Ettrichova vila Villa

Welcome to Jaromer. You are standing before Ettrich's villa, which stands before you as a real symbol of the wealth and ambition of its time. If you look at her now, you're probably interested in her grandeur and the way she dominates the surrounding space. It is a building that combines elegance and strength, and its appearance from the very first moment suggests that there was someone who wanted to leave a deep mark in the history of this city. Feel its strict symmetry, which is balanced and harmonious, and take a moment to get used to its monumental dimensions.

Now let's move back more than 150 years in time. This magnificent building was built in the year of a thousand eight hundred seventy-three. But it wasn't just an ordinary residence, it was a family home for a man named Josef Ettrich. If you haven't heard of him, let me introduce him. Josef Ettrich was a pioneer and founder of the first Czech jute mill. So imagine that this villa was built in the park area of the factory at the time. It was a way to connect the place of work to the place of rest and private life. Ettrich was not only an entrepreneur, he was a visionary who built an industrial empire in Jaroměř, and this villa was to be a reasonable expression of his success.

Now that you're still looking at the building, pay attention to its appearance. The architecture of the villa is very interesting because it combines different styles. In technical terms, there is talk of eclectism, which means that the building draws from several different periods at once. Look closely at the facade details. Note the neo-Baroque elements that provide the building with nobility and a certain sense of stability, but you will also find Art Nouveau elements that are softer and more modern.

Note especially the rich decorating. If you look closer at the surface of the walls, you will see the plant motifs and also the figures of people, the so-called anthropomorphic decor. The whole house was designed as one great, whole work of art, where every detail, from the smallest ornament to the overall layout, makes sense. It's a fascinating example of how design was approached at the time. Everything was supposed to be perfect, balanced and representative.

Interestingly, the building you see today is not exactly the same as it was in the year one thousand eight hundred seventy-three. Let's remember the year one thousand nine hundred and three. Just this year, the villa underwent a major reconstruction. The recognized architect František Plesnivý was behind this project. He helped the villa deliver its present form and brought its aesthetics to the top. The meager managed to perfectly link the original design to the new trends of the time, which made the villa a real jewel of architecture.

When we think about this place, we can't forget the people who walked here. In addition to Josef Ettrich himself, who lived here and made up his history, people from the highest levels of the society at that time also stopped here. Imagine that in the year one thousand eight hundred eighty this villa was visited by Emperor Franz Joseph himself first. Imagine the atmosphere, the preparation, the tension and the importance that such a visit brought with it. The Emperor's arrival at Ettrich's home was a confirmation of the high social status of the family and the importance of their business for the whole country.

It's fascinating to think how many secrets these walls keep. Imagine discussions about trade, politics and the future of industry that have been held here in the presence of the most powerful man in the empire. This villa was not just a home, it was a centre of power and influence within the Jaroměřské region.

To highlight the value of what you see before you, it is important to mention that since the year one thousand nine hundred fifty-eight Ettrichova vila has been officially registered as a cultural monument. That means the state has recognized its irreplaceable value for our nation and history. It's a monument to human work, ambition and taste.

Now if you look at the whole structure again, try to connect all these pieces together. You see the symmetry, you see the plant decorating and the statues on the facade, you feel the presence of an industrial tycoon and an imperial guest. It's a place where the world of hard business meets the world of high art and architecture.

Imagine how calm was spreading around the villa in the park, while machines were running in the factory just a short walk away and jute was being processed. This contrast between the noisy production and the quiet luxury of the villa is very typical of the period of industrial boom.

Now that you've become familiar with the main features of this house, I suggest you look at it from different angles for a while longer. Try to notice how the light changes on the facade and how the details of the decoration come from the surface. Feel the atmosphere of this place, which brings you to a time of elegance, when buildings were built to last centuries and tell stories to their future visitors.

Thank you for accompanying me on this short trip to the history of Ettrich's villa. I hope you are interested in this home of the founder of the Czech jute mill and that you have found inspiration in it. Now it is up to you whether you choose to explore the next corner of Jaromer and discover another secret of this beautiful city. I wish you a pleasant continued journey and a wonderful experience in discovering our sights. Goodbye.