Radnice (Dvůr Králové nad Labem) Town hall

Welcome to Dvůr Králové nad Labem. Right now, standing here, you have one of the most important and beautiful symbols of this historic place. You're standing right in front of the old town hall, a building that carries traces of centuries, many stories and many changes. Look at her face, her walls, and try to imagine how many people have walked these streets before you. This building is not just a wall and a roof, it is a living witness to the history of our city, which survived fires, reconstructions, and transformations of time.

To understand why this building looks what it looks like, we need to go back deep into the past. Imagine 1572. That was a year that was very difficult for this place. There was a devastating fire at the time that hit many houses in the area and changed the city's face. One of them was the house of the local glove maker, who was standing right here. After this tragic phenomenon, it took something new, something solid, and something to represent the rising city. So it happened that a new town hall began to emerge on the ruins of the old house. To make the building truly special, the masters from Italy were invited. It was these Italian builders who brought a new style to our region, which, at the time, impressed Europe with its elegance, balance and a new vision of beauty. Thanks to their work, a beautiful Renaissance building was born here, laying the foundations for everything you see today.

Now pay attention to the architecture itself and to what you see right in front of you. Although the building looks like one solid whole, it's actually like a book that has many chapters. Although her heart and original souls remain Renaissance, time has left its unmistakable traces. Over the centuries, the town hall went through several major reconstructions that changed its appearance according to its needs and taste. During the Baroque period and later in the Empire period, her face was changing to match new modes and images of representativeness. Yet she managed to preserve her original Renaissance features, which makes her a true gem, which combines various epochs into one harmonious work.

If you look at her walls now, you can see the strange depth and detail. In 1986, a major overhaul was carried out, which mainly focused on the restoration of Renaissance sgraffiti. These fine, scraped decorations on the facade are proof of the incredible work of the then masters who were able to create complex and beautiful patterns using simple tools. In 1833, the city invested large resources in another costly reconstruction, which brought a new shield and turret, which gave the building its distinctive and dignified appearance today. This building served many people in different ways - it was the seat of the district court, it served as a city museum, and even today it is an important centre where representative authorities are located.

The history of this place is not only about stones, but also about the unhappiness and incredible perseverance of people. In 1699, the town hall found itself again in a fiery embrace. This fire was very devastating and hit the very essence of the building - both the roof and the clock tower burned down, which meant a great loss and sadness for the city. But like many times before, the city recovered from this test and rebuilt the building to serve its citizens again. Although the names of all the people who worked here may not always be given to us, we know of the important characters that breathed life into the building. We must mention here names such as Ulrico Aostalli de Sala or Jan Merlian, who were involved in the creation of this place. Their work is in every stone and every detail you observe today.

Let's now look at one very interesting thing that you might miss if you didn't look really closely. Above the second floor of the building is placed something that connects human work to the movement of the universe - the sun clock. They are decorated with a Latin inscription created by Jan Angel Brecht. This man lived between 1797 and 2002, and his work reminds us of how time passes, while these walls and these streets remain. It is a fascinating combination of science, art and history that you can see right in front of you, as the sun moves through the sky and how its light hits this historical object.

I hope that this brief insight into the history of our town hall has at least given you a little interest and helped you better understand the beauty of this place. This building is just one of many beautiful things that you can find in the Two Kings above the Lab. I suggest you continue to walk through the city, listen to the heartbeat of our streets, and discover other hidden secrets that every old wall has in it. Thank you for spending this moment with us and paying attention to our heritage. We wish you a beautiful journey and another pleasant discovery of all the beauty of this city.