Obecní dům (Semily) Hotel building

Welcome to Semilos. Right now, you're standing in front of one of the city's most striking faces. In front of you stands the exhibition building of the Municipal House, which with its size and appearance immediately attracts the attention of anyone who accedes to this square. If you look at it, you'll see a structure that emits stability, dignity and a certain amount of optimism back then. Together with the nearby church of St. Peter and Paul, this house is the main dominant part of the city, which determines the rhythm of the whole area. It is a place where history meets the daily lives of residents and visitors.

Let us now stop at how it was created. Imagine we're going back more than a hundred years. The city of Semily in a thousand and nine hundred and four suffered a major accident. There was a fire that destroyed several houses and left empty spaces in the heart of the city. It is this tragic event that has become the impetus for the creation of the construction that you are facing today. Between a thousand and nine hundred and seven and a thousand and nine hundred and eight, construction of this house began to fill the space after the burned buildings and bring to the city a new standard of modern housing and administration. The project was taken up by architect Jan Vejrych, who chose the style of neoRenaissance. The building was subsequently collapsed in the year one thousand nine hundred and thirteen.

Now pay attention to the architecture itself and the details that you can observe right in front of you. Look up at the building shield. If you get a little attention, you'll notice a mosaic of Venetian glass depicting a city emblem. It's a delicate but valuable detail that gives the house a unique character. Note also the characteristic turret, which stands out above the roof and gives the whole object an elegant silhouette. The whole appearance of the building is designed to be representative. At the time of its creation, it was not just an ordinary house, but a real symbol of progress.

When we think about what happened in these walls, we have to realize that the Municipal House has been designed from the beginning as a multifunctional space. It wasn't just an administrative building. Imagine that in one place the city offices were concentrated, where important citizens' issues were addressed, but at the same time there was a refuge of the traveler in the hotel and the locals in the restaurant. Important people, such as Milos and Alois Kvapil, were connected to the building, who left their mark in the history of this place. Over the years, the building has undergone various changes in ownership and names, including the time it has been under government, reflecting the wider history of our countries in the last century.

Now I want to impress you with something that doesn't have to be seen at first sight, but that at the time of construction must have been a real charm. Try to imagine what contrast it was in the year one thousand nine hundred and seven. While most of the neighborhood was still traditional, this house was the cutting edge of technology. At the time of its creation it had electric lighting and central heating was installed on the ground floor. It was at that time an incredible luxury that made this house one of the most modern places in the region. And if you could look deep beneath your feet, you would get into a vast cellar. These places served as brewery cellars, where in the cold ice was kept a ticket to cool in the form of beer.

The history of the house did not stop at the time of its creation. The building has declared its value even in the newer times. At the end of the last century, namely in the year one thousand nine hundred ninety-nine, it underwent a major reconstruction, carried out by Topex ninety-nine. Thanks to this care, the house in the year two thousand could be reopened under the name of the Municipal House today, so that it could serve other generations in full glory.

Today, when you're looking at this unorthodox work, consider it a bridge between the past and the present. It's a building that survived changes in modes, technical development, and time trials. It is a reminder of how Semily evolved and how to live and work in the city. It is a place where the practical administration of the city has joined with hospitality of the hotel and restaurant.

Now that you know the story of this house, I suggest you observe it from different angles for a while. Notice how the building is aligned with the surrounding space and how dominant the view of the square is. You can try to think about how many people have walked through this door over the last hundred years, how many important decisions have been made in the offices and how many happy meetings have taken place in the restaurant.

Thank you for a short journey together through the history of the Municipal House in Semily. I hope that this story has enriched you and that you will receive a pleasant impression from this beautiful Neo-Renaissance building. It is now up to you whether you will continue to discover the other beauties of this city or whether you will enjoy the atmosphere of this historic centre. I wish you a pleasant rest of the day and a pleasant journey to explore the surroundings.