Lékárna Other

Welcome to Nicholas. You just stopped in front of a building that carries the incredible power of time and stories that took place on these streets. You're standing in front of the former pharmacy at Leo's. Before we go into her history, pay attention to what's right in front of you. This storey construction does not act as one continuous whole, but rather as a fascinating combination of different periods. Feel how different shapes and moods collide here, which flow smoothly into each other. It's a building that survived the destruction that was changing, and that came from where the human body was being cured, a place where the infinity of the universe is observed.

Now let's go back deep into the past to understand how this house came into being. The roots of this construction range back to the last quarter of the eighteenth century. At that time, the building had a rather simple, classicist character, being part of an early town. The breakthrough for her fate was 1833. At that time the pharmacist Johann Jakobie purchased this house and decided to move his pharmacy right here, to building number four. Imagine the times, the smell of herbs, the glass vessels and the silence that accompanied the preparation of drugs for the locals. This pharmacy was the heart of health throughout the surrounding area.

However fate had a cruel decision for Mikulášovice in 1842. The great fire that engulfed the city at that time carries a tragedy, but also an opportunity for recovery. Even though the fire destroyed the original shape of the building, the pharmacy was born again from the ashes. At this time the construction was rebuilt into a neo-Renaissance style. If you look at the main body of the building now, this is the style that dominates it. The Neo-Renaissance brought a sense of stability, order and grandeur to the Mikuláš. This new form of the building was intended to express the importance of the pharmacy as an institution on which people could rely.

But now pay attention to what you see when you look at another part of the construction. Once the eyes move to the wing attached, you'll see a whole different world. In 1913, the architecture of this place changed dramatically again. Josef Adolf Krause has built a new wing built in Art Nouveau style. Art Nouveau is a style that loves curves, organic shapes and softness. This new wing brought light and modern breath to the building back then. And it is in this wing that there is something quite extraordinary - the observatory.

This contrast between the solid, neo-Renaissance part and the lighter, Art Nouveau extension is what makes this monument so unique. It's like you're reading a serious historical document in one book and on the next, a beautiful dream poetry. This building is a living witness to how human needs and aesthetic taste change. For decades, until 1962, the pharmacy actually worked here. People came here with pain, hope for healing, and pharmacists helped them in their difficult moments.

But when the pharmacy closed, the building could be forgotten. Fortunately, it didn't. In 1992 this building and the observatory were officially declared a cultural monument. This means that its history and its beauty are now protected for future generations. It is proof that even if the function of the place changes, his soul remains.

The interesting thing that may surprise you is the unusual path this building has taken. Most historical buildings remain loyal to their original purpose, or turn into residential houses or offices. But here we see a rise from earthly to heavenly. Lékárna has dealt with what's inside us, what's bothering us on this earth. The observatory then deals with what is far above us, what is infinite and untouchable. It's a fascinating transition from healing the body to finding answers in the depths of the universe.

Looking at the building, you can imagine the characters that left their mark. Imagine Johann Jakobieho planning the future of his pharmacy in 1833. Imagine Adolf Krause, who in 1913 brought science to the Mikuláš and a view of the stars. Each of them contributed to the fact that you are standing right here today looking at this unique whole.

Now you have no more long talk, but an invitation to explore. This building is not just an object to observe from a distance. It's a gateway. This is where your journey to the celestial bodies begins. If you feel like it, go ahead and enter the observatory which is hidden in this Art Nouveau Wing. Let yourself be carried away by the secrets of the universe that awaits you there. Thank you for your time and attention to this historic monument. We wish you a wonderful continuation of your tour and many experiences, whether looking at history or looking into the night sky. Goodbye.