Masarykovo náměstí čp. 89 - dům Štěpánka Netolického House

Welcome to the heart of Trebon, the beautiful Masaryk Square. Please stop for a moment and take a deep look at the atmosphere of this place. Right now, you're standing in front of a building with the number 80, which is known in local records as Stepan Netolický's house. Look at his facade and see his appearance. It is an object that carries layers of several centuries and tells the story of prosperity, craftsmanship and deep ties of this city to water and ponds. This house is not just an ordinary building, it is a real witness to history that has become a home for the memory of the entire region.

If we look deeper into the past, we find that the roots of this house go back to the Gothic period. Imagine what this place looked like hundreds of years ago, at a time when the city was just forming and life was governed by a completely different rhythm. The Gothic era left its foundation in the house, but the real face you see today, the building acquired later. In the second half of the sixteenth century, i.e. during the Renaissance, the house underwent a major reconstruction. It was this Renaissance change that defined the current space available and gave the house the character that made it an architectural object in the centre of Trebon. The Renaissance was a time of new birth, a time of interest in man, science and beauty, and this was reflected in how this building was remodeled.

Now pay attention to what you see right in front of you. Look at the facade and see how the house is registered in the total liqueness square. Although the authors of specific architectural plans are now unknown, their work has lasted centuries. It's fascinating to think that the walls you're standing on remember the arrival of one of the most important personalities in this house. I'm talking about Joseph the Steppet. Who was that? Joseph was a famous pond man, a man who understood water, fish and landscape like few others. He became the owner of this house in a way that was very common and romantic at the time - he married the house. With this connection, the house became an inseparable part of the story of the pond championship, a field that Trebon has famous around the world.

Now let's think about what's inside. If you enter, I suggest you focus on one very special and rare element. In the interior there is a hall decorated with Renaissance wall paintings. These paintings are not just an ornament, but they are of profound importance. They represent seven free arts. In the Renaissance, it was the basic education of every educated man. Imagine these paintings as a window into the minds of the people of that time who believed in the harmony between science, art and logic. It's an amazing contrast to the practical work of the pond man that took place in this house. It shows that the owners of the house were not only people of work, but also people of culture and education.

In addition to the interior space, there is one more detail that you may be aware of now. It's a historical well. Nowadays we are used to water flowing from the faucet, but in the past the well was the center of survival and social life. This particular well has been common in the past for both this house and the adjacent building. Imagine the morning interviews of the neighbors at the water pumping, sharing news from the city and mutual assistance. The well is a symbol of the community and neighbourhood, which played a key role in the centres of old cities.

The House of Štěpánek Netolický passed several important milestones in modern times, which ensured that we could admire it today. By the year nine hundred and sixty-three, the building was officially declared to be a monument protected. The state recognised its irreplaceable value for Czech architecture and history. However, time is relentless and still solid walls need care. That is why in the year two thousand fifteen a complete and very demanding reconstruction took place. The total investment was CZK 23 million. It was a huge operation to preserve the authenticity of the house and to breathe in new life energy for modern times. As a result of this care, in the year two thousand and sixteen, the Třeboňský Pond Heritage Centre could have been inaugurated.

This is the very center of the house today. But it's not a dry museum with dust on the exhibits. It's a place that offers interactive experiences. This means that you can get involved in the stories of the pond, touch history and understand why Treboň is so closely connected with water areas. The house became a bridge between the past, when Josef Štěpánek Netolický ran its ponds, and the moment when visitors from around the world come here to learn about the unique system of South Bohemian ponds.

Now if you look at the building again, try to imagine the contrast. On the one hand, Gothic foundations, on the other, Renaissance elegance, in the heart of pond practice, and above all the cultural dimension of seven free arts. It's a place where practical work with high education meets and where the personal story of the man who married the house is intertwined with the history of the entire city.

We now invite you to cross the threshold of this house. Come in and let yourself be guided by a world where water forms a landscape and pond is more than just a craft - it's art. Explore the interactive exposition, find those beautiful wall paintings in the hall and perceive the silence of the old walls that have so much to tell. We hope that a visit to the Centre of Třeboňský pond heritage in the house of Štěpánek Netolický will interest you and that you will carry from it a piece of Třeboň in your heart.

We wish you a pleasant tour and an inspirational encounter with history. When you've finished your journey inside, don't forget to look again at the square that still surrounds you with its beauty. We look forward to having these moments with us at one of Trebon's most important monuments. See you in the next corner of our town.