Náměstí Republiky 10 House

Welcome to the heart of our city. You're standing in Republic Square, where history meets the daily movement of people. In front of your eyes is house number ninety-eight, which forms a solid part of the eastern part of this square. Notice how this object is strategically located right where the square connects to Wooden Street. It's a place that has been observing the changing face of Pilsen for centuries. When you look at it as a whole, you can feel its weight and stability, but at the same time, in its details, you will find traces of many different times, which were gradually changing here. This house is not just a wall and a roof, it's a live record of time that will now open up to you.

Now let's go back deep into the past to understand how this house came into being. Its roots date back to the time of the Renaissance, when solid and balanced buildings were built to express grandeur. However, what you see today is the result of many changes. The big break occurred in seven hundred and thirty-one. In that year, the house under the strain of new modes and city needs began to change. Under the leadership of Master James Auguston, the building underwent a deep Baroque reconstruction. That's when the house became much more powerful because it managed to build the whole second floor. This move probably changed the entire face of the square at the time because the house gained both in height and importance. Later, in the first half of the nineteenth century, the facade continued to adjust to match the time, and the house took the form you're seeing right now.

Now pay attention to what is right in front of you because the architecture of this house encourages you to observe in detail. Look at the ground floor where the most important stone elements are located. Your eyes should be immediately drawn to the main portal. It's a massive, barefoot entrance that acts very strongly and relentlessly. If you approach it, notice the vault, the curved stone at the top of the entrance. It is there that a monogram is drawn that tells us who was the main investor of the changes at the time. Next to the main entrance you will see two more, smaller portals which are also barefoot. This stone work, where the blocks are worked to act roughly and magnificently, is a typical feature that gives the house its character and depth. Note how these stone elements contradict the smooth parts of the facade and how they create a game of light and shadow that changes depending on how the sun shines through the square.

If you look at the house, maybe you can think of who lived in these walls or worked here. The history of this place is closely linked to important names. In the past, this house has been used for various purposes, from legal matters to production. Imagine what sounds and smells were like here when the house was run with malt and wine sunscreen. It was a place full of work and living business. Over the centuries, there were several important personalities. These include Matěj Milivský or František Pytlík. However, one of the most significant stories belongs to Václav Poppa. He became the owner of the house in a thousand eight hundred and sixteen. His presence is carved directly into the stone above the main portal, which is the permanent signature of a man who wanted his name to remain in the city's memory. This house was therefore not only a home, but also a symbol of the success and social position of its owners.

Now, I'd like to invite you to think a little bit about the one interesting thing that is sleeping in this house. You might think the house looks the same, but he's actually composed of different layers that fit into each other like in a puzzle. Notice how in the year one thousand nine hundred and thirteen houses changed when part of the neighborhood house number ninety-nine was attached to it. It was at that time that a modern entrance was set up, which tried to align with the overall appearance, but brought a new feeling to the building for the time being. It's fascinating to think about how every next generation has tried to preserve this object or redesign it according to their own needs, without completely destroying what was before them. This house is like a book where each chapter was written by a different instrument and a different style, but the story remains one continuous stream of history.

Don't forget to watch the house connect to the surrounding space. His location at the mouth of Wooden Street gives him a specific character as if he were a guardian of the entrance to the smaller streets behind the square. It's a place where time stops even when there's always something going on around you.

I hope this short journey through the history of house number ninety-eight has struck you. Now that you know all about his stone walls and his facade is hidden, I suggest you continue your walk through the square. Look at other buildings, see the atmosphere of this place, and look at the details that you have missed before. Every stone here has its own voice. Thank you for spending this moment with us, and we will wait you out for another tour of our city's other sights. Goodbye.