Hotel Central (Nová Paka) Hotel building

Hotel Central, located on Masaryk Square in Nová Paka, is one of the dominant buildings of this village in the Králové Hradec Region. This Neo-Renaissance building with significant Art Nouveau elements was built in 1906 and has been protected as a cultural monument since 2016. It originally served as a hotel, but today it hosts various cultural events, coffee shop and business.

The history of the building dates back to the beginning of the 20th century, when at the site of the current Hotel Central stood the Guesthouse near the Golden Grape. This inn was demolished in 1905 and a new hotel was built instead of its former building, which became the centre of cultural and political events in the city. Over the years, the building underwent several reconstructions, the most significant of which took place in the second half of the 1970s and the first half of the 1980s, when the hotel was completed in 1982.

The Hotel Central is an architectural representative of the Neo-Renaissance style with Art Nouveau elements. The building has a rectangular plan and is located in the south street front on TGM Square. In the street level, the building is raised and is connected on both sides to the arch, which is carried out by six square columns. The facade is divided by six vertical pilasters and has a varied Art Nouveau decoration in the form of stucco, mascaron, labels and teacups. There is a balcony with metal railing in the middle of the facade above the arch. The combined or otherwise broken windows have decorated parapets, mantelpiece and champagne.

After the Velvet Revolution, several changes in ownership conditions occurred. The building was privatized and replaced several owners starting with the destruction of the building. In 2014 the hotel bought Vojtěch Kubálek from Kladno. After a year after the purchase, the first concerts started to be held and reconstruction took place which included replacement of water installation, electrical installation or heating. In 2016 the cafe was opened and dance courses, balls, fashion shows and other cultural events started.

Today Hotel Central is not only a cultural monument, but also a centre of cultural life in Nová Paka. The city has been involved several times in the reconstruction work, for example in the painting of the large hall or the reconstruction of windows. Much of the reconstruction was done thanks to volunteer assistance. The reconstruction of accommodation units is also planned in the future so that the building can serve as a hotel again.

Hotel Central is not only the architectural pearls of Nová Paka, but also a witness to the history and cultural development of the area. Its importance to the local community and its contribution to cultural activities makes it not only a monument to be protected, but also a place worth visiting.