Radnice (Bochov) Town hall

Welcome to the beautiful city of Bochov. Right now, when you're standing in the middle of the Square of Peace, the view of a building that is the real heart of this place is clinging to you. It's a town hall, a historical symbol of the local administration and an important point of the city. Imagine they just stopped in time. This building is not just an ordinary house, but a witness to many years of history that took place right here in this square. Feel the atmosphere of peace and stability that this building radiates. It is a place where people met, where the fate of the city was decided, and where the life of the local people was shaped for centuries. You are standing in front of an object that is today protected as a cultural monument, which means that its value for all of us is immense and we must look after it for future generations.

Now let's move further into the past together to understand how this place came to be. The history of the City Hall in Bochov goes much further than it might seem. Even in 1533, the city bought a house that served as a town hall at the time, from a man named Jindřich z Plavna. This tells us that the need to have a central place for managing the city has been felt here a long time ago. However, the town hall that you are now looking at before your eyes is much younger. To understand its present form, we must return to the beginning of the nineteenth century. The whole process of building a new town hall began in 1818. It was a time when the city needed a more modern and dignified seat for its officials. On 15 May 1818 the foundation stone of the new building was laid. Since then, there has been intensive work that lasted two years until the construction was completed in 1820. This new town hall then stood in the place of the older house, symbolically joining the old traditions with the new times.

Now pay attention to the architecture of the building that surrounds you. If you look at its overall structure, you'll notice a very interesting arrangement. The entire object is not just one khviiem, but consists of four wings. These four wings are set to form a small inner courtyard around them. This inner space creates a sense of privacy and peace in the building, separated from the busy square. This whole thing is built in Empire style. This style, which was very popular at the time of construction, places great emphasis on balance, order and harmony. When you look at the facade, you can see the pursuit of symmetry and elegance that is so typical of this architectural direction.

Now try to look your eyes as high as possible. Above the main facade, there is a very distinctive element in a place called risalite. It's a two-story prism tower. Its presence gives the city hall nobility and makes it the dominant point of the square. In this tower you will find a niche in which the clock dial is located. This tower is not just a decoration, but it served as a landmark for all who moved around the city. The clock dial has been the main indicator of time for local residents and visitors for many years. Feel the beauty of the building as its lines rise to the sky and how the tower harmoniously complements the rest of the building.

Speaking of history, we can't forget the people involved in this place. One of the key names is Jindřich z Plavna, who already sold the city house as a town hall in the 16th century. Although it is a name from a very distant past, it shows a long continuity of city administration. City Hall has always been a place where the interests of different personalities clash. Although the architects who designed this empire structure remained unknown in our records, their work is clearly visible in every detail of the building. Their ability to create such a balanced entity that has lasted for hundreds of years is a great success in itself.

There is also one interesting thing that may surprise you and which shows how the role of this building has changed over time. You may think the town hall served only for the needs of the city hall, but history has a different story for us. There was a significant change in 1848. The city then decided that the City Hall premises would be released for the needs of the District Court. Imagine the change of atmosphere. The place where urban affairs and day-to-day administration were dealt with has become the place where the law, justice and legal disputes of the entire district were decided. This building was therefore not only an administrative centre, but also a pillar of the rule of law in this area.

Look at City Hall for a little while longer and feel its presence. It is a building that survived changes in political systems, changes in architecture and changes in people's lifestyle. It's a fixed point in time. Every wing, every stone and every tower floor tell their own story about the growth and stability of the city of Bochov. It is fascinating how the need for administration, the need for justice and the need for beauty is mixed in this one object.

Now, however, we will no longer hold you in one place. City Hall is just the beginning of your journey. The Square of Peace offers many other views and details that are worth exploring. We recommend you continue your walk around the city and look for other traces of history that are all around you. You may encounter other interesting houses or memorable objects that tell you about the past of this place. Take your time, enjoy the Bochova atmosphere and be carried away by the beauty of this historic environment. Thank you for spending this moment with us and for paying attention to this monument. We wish you a nice walk and many other interesting experiences. Goodbye.