Katovna (Nymburk) Other

Welcome to Nymburk. Right now, when you put on your headphones, you're in a place that tells stories of years ago and carries the shadows of history that you might be very interested in. You're standing in a location called The Port, and if you look around you, you can feel the proximity of water. It is very strange here because it is this proximity to the Elba River and to the water trench that determines the atmosphere of this place. There's a building in front of you that's not just a house. It's a historic hangout, an object that has its own very specific identity. Now, feel the atmosphere of peace that exists here, but at the same time, realize that this place was once part of a much more dynamic and even more stringent system of urban fortification.

Look at the building right in front of your eyes. This Baroque building is a fascinating witness to the past. Its roots go deep into the seventeenth century, which means that this house has seen centuries of changes, coming and going people and transforming the whole city. Look at how this building is located. It's not random. The building lies externally integrated between two water trenches, which were once part of the original urban fortification. These waterways were once a key element of city protection and this cathode was firmly anchored in this system. It is a fascinating view of how architecture has adapted to the needs of defence and the needs of people who have performed their heavy tasks in this city.

Now pay attention to the very purpose of this house. According to the tradition attached to this place, this object served as a residence for a city executioner. It's a word that carries a great deal of weight and perhaps a slight touch of mystery. The executioner was a figure that was absolutely necessary for the city at the time when this building was created, but it was also a figure that lived in the margins of society. He was a man who had to perform tasks other people refused to perform. His home, this building, must have been a place that reflected his social position. Although he was part of the urban order, his life was defined by work that was terrifying to most people.

If you look at the construction itself now, notice its Baroque style. Although time is constantly changing, the Baroque character of this building still allows us to understand the aesthetics and thinking of the time when the construction was intended for use. The Baroque style is known for its richness and emphasis on the shapes we find here in this building. Even though the building now appears to be a peaceful part of the landscape, its architecture carries the dignity and gravity that has been required for such important persons. Feel the harmony between the water surrounding it and the solid structure of this house.

Now let's think about moving forward in time and imagine what was happening around here. In close proximity to where you're standing right now, there was once another important building. It was a tower called the mustard. This tower was very familiar to the surroundings and its presence was constantly felt. But it wasn't just an ordinary tower. She was very strict. She served as a prison and as a place where a torture chamber was carried out. Imagine the weight this place was carrying. While the executioner was home to the man who carried out the sentences, the Tower of Horčice was the place where human fate was decided in the darkest moments. This tower was part of the same system as this building, it was part of the protection and administration of the city. Unfortunately, in the eighteenth century this tower was demolished. There is no visible structure left behind today, but its history is still firmly linked to this place and the atmosphere you feel here. It's one of those things that makes this place so interesting - you see one structure, but in your mind you have to draw the other one that's not there anymore.

It's interesting to see how time changes the perception of these places. What was once a place of fear, prison and the execution of punishment is now perceived as a valuable legacy. In the year two thousand and one, this building was officially declared a cultural monument. This means that its value for us, for future generations, is recognised and protected. We're not just looking at him as an old house between the waters anymore, but as an important point on the map of our history.

Try to stand there for a while and see it all around you. Feel that stream of water in the trenches, feel the proximity of the Elbe River and try to reconstruct the image of the city that was surrounded by water and fortifications. Imagine those times when people were on these roads in period clothes, when the Tower of Horčice was still high and when life in this city was much more affected by the presence of the executioner and his house. This hangroom is like a chapter in a book that remains open.

Now I want to invite you to continue your walk through this beautiful location. Nymburk has many other secrets and other places worth exploring. Perhaps you will go further along the river, or go to the very center of the city to look for more clues of the past. I hope this brief view of the history of the cathode has helped you better understand this place and its meaning. Thank you for spending this moment with me. I wish you a beautiful and inspirational journey along Nymbura. I will say goodbye and wish you this journey to fill you with new experiences.