Nová radnice v Litomyšli Town hall

Welcome to the heart of Litomysl. Stop for a moment and breathe deeply into the atmosphere of this beautiful city. Right now, you're standing in front of a building that is a silent witness to centuries of history, the New Town Hall. Look at her. In front of you stands a storey house that radiates in its form the elegance and dignity of the late baroque. It's a building that dominates Smetana Square under a descriptive sixty-one. The first impression that radiates from it is a sense of stability and order, which exactly corresponds to its role in the life of the city. Feel her appearance, her rhythm and the way she fits in the area around the square. It's a place where the official spirit meets the artistic feeling of the time.

In order to understand why the building looks like this, we have to go back far back in our minds until the 16th century. Imagine there was a very different building in this place, a Renaissance house. The first known owner who left his trail was a man named Matej, who worked as a brewer. At that time, brewing was a key part of the economy, and thus the house was probably vibrating with life related to beer and trade production. Renaissance architecture was at that time a symbol of a new beginning and flourishing, but fate had prepared a dramatic twist for this building.

In the year seven hundred and sixty-nine, the city faced disaster. There was a devastating fire that engulfed the original Renaissance structure and left nothing but ashes and debris. It was a great loss for the townspeople, but it also opened the way for a fresh start. It's just from a few pieces of the old house that you see today. Between seven hundred sixty-nine and seven hundred seventy-five, a new building was built on the site of the damaged house. This was a time when the Baroque ruled Europe, a style full of emotion, decorating and desire for representativeness.

Now pay attention to the architecture itself. Look carefully at the facade, the facade of the house. Notice how richly decorated it is. Baroque taste is reflected here in details that are meant to impress the eye and inspire admiration. The architect Jiří Béba, who was responsible for the construction, was able to imprint the building with a character that combines practical with aesthetic value. Although some elements have changed in later years, the basic baroque character remains. If you could look inside, you would find that the interiors reflect this same taste for beauty and decoration. The whole house was designed to represent the status of the people who worked in it.

But this house hasn't been a city hall since the beginning. His history is a fascinating story of transformation. For a long time, he served as the headquarters of the estate administration. So imagine here the officials, writers and administrators who kept records of the land, crops and duties of the subjects. Jiří Kristian of Valdštejn Vartenberk, whose influence in the region was significant, is also associated with this period. The building was basically an administrative center of power, where many people in the area were determined.

The break in the history of the building came in a thousand eight hundred twenty-five. It was this year that the house began to perform the function we know today, and became a city hall. The city thus acquired its official center of administration. A little later, in the year one thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight, the property of the house definitely went to the property of the town of Litomysle. This closed the circle from the private house of the brewer to the administration of the large estate to the public institution which serves all citizens.

Let us now focus on a detail that is very important to every visitor of Litomysle. Look at the wall of the building. In the year one thousand nine hundred and twelve a memorial plaque was installed here. If you approach it, you will see the relief bust of Bedrich Smetana. It's a beautiful symbol of the combination of music, art and city administration. Bedřich Smetana, one of our most important composers, is deeply associated with Litomysl, and the fact that his memory is revered here, at City Hall, gives this place an even deeper dimension. It is a reminder that Litomysl is not only a city of offices and history, but above all a city of culture and inspiration.

You might find one interesting thing that you can't see at first sight. The new town hall was not built on one small parcel. During its construction after the fire, the building was built on the site of two adjacent plots. This explains its dimensions and the way it filled the space within the square. It's a little architectural trick from the eighteenth century to maximize space and create a building that will be spacious enough for all administration needs.

If you're standing in front of this building today, try to imagine the contrast. On the one hand, the hot flames of the fire of seven hundred sixty-nine and on the other hand the calm and elegance of baroque lines that followed. It's a story about the ability to rise again from the ashes and create something even more beautiful. This town hall is not just a pile of stone and plaster, it's a massive memory of the city that tells us about lovers, nobles, architects and great musicians.

Now that you know the story of this building, I suggest you put it around again. Feel how light is reflected from the facade and how baroque details change depending on the angle you're looking at. Let yourself be caught up in the feeling that you stopped in time for a while.

But your journey, Litomysl, does not end with this. There are still plenty of places around you waiting to be discovered. Perhaps now you will be tempted to walk to the castle or discover narrow streets that lead away from the square. Every stone in this city has a story, just like this town hall.

Thank you for letting me show you the history of New Town Hall. I hope this view of the past has enriched your stay in our city. I wish you a pleasant continuation in discovering the beauty of Litomysle and enjoy every moment you spend in this magical place. Goodbye.