Novobydžovská radnice Town hall

Novobydžovská radnice is a neo-gothic building on Masaryk Square in Nový Bydžov, which serves as a seat of the city office. It is a dominant square and protected as a cultural monument of the Czech Republic.

The first mention of City Hall dates back to 1462. There was a dispute between craftsmen and the town community. In 1581, the old house was sold to Matìj Netolický of Florentine for 600 kop míl. This original wooden house was sold to the innkeeper Jan Finger in 1621 and was registered among the desolate houses after the 30-year war in 1653. In 1670, space was sold to Simon Strak.

The new stone town hall in the Renaissance style had to be built at the latest since 1580. It later underwent baroque and classicist modifications before being demolished in 1862 for the construction of a new neo-gothic town hall.

The present town hall was established at the site of the original Renaissance building and the neighbouring Hruškovsky house. The main motive of its construction was the abolition of the supreme administration after 1848 and the city's efforts to obtain a higher political office. Nový Bydžov has successfully worked out its political role in the past, becoming the centre of the newly established Bydjov region. The project was awarded to architect Josef Ball. Although the Town Hall Tower harvested comments, the construction was opened in 1863 and inaugurated in 1865.

The building is two storey and stands out with medium risalite and corner towers. The entrance to the building consists of a wide passage in the central tract. There is a large meeting hall above this passage, which is illuminated by three high windows with a broken arch. The Rizalite ends with a high shield with a clock. The equipment of the meeting hall was a part of the carver V. Frog and painter L. Non-edible. In 1891, the facade was supplemented with the sculptures of the kings of Charles IV and George of Podebrad, created by sculptor Josef Barth. The original Renaissance building preserved the rooms of the ground floor of the left part and the undertower with a cross-encapsulated arch and other rooms, which today serve as a ceremonial hall.

Today the town hall is the seat of the city office and an important architectural element of the city. Its historical development and architectural details make it an important object for exploring the history of the city.