Radnice (Náchod) Town hall

Welcome to the heart of Náchod. At this very moment, while listening to these words, you are standing in the middle of Masaryk Square and you are in a place that forms the very center and soul of the whole neighborhood. In front of your eyes is a building that immediately catches your attention. It's the new town hall. Notice how this space is completely controlled by its height and its overall form. Her presence here is not random, it is a building to be seen to tell the story of strength, growth and dignity of this city. You may now be interested in her majestic appearance and how her shapes reflect in the surrounding space. It is a building that constantly reminds everyone that this is where the fate of the local people is decided.

But to understand why this building looks just like this and why it's so important to us, we have to go back in time together. Imagine the early 20th century. It was a time of great change, a time of optimism and expansion when cities began to grow and needed a new, modern and representative centre for their governance. It was during this period, at the turn of the old and new century, that this construction project was being developed. Behind this magnificent work were two skilled creators, architects Josef Podhajský and Josef Martínek. They were supposed to create something that wasn't just an ordinary building for officials, but something that would serve as a symbol of the city for many generations. The whole process culminated in a thousand and nine hundred and four, when the grand opening took place, which certainly brought great joy and pride among all citizens. So this town hall is not just a walled-up structure, it is a monument to human effort and to beauty at a time when the world around it was changing rapidly.

Now, please, pay attention to what you see right in front of you. Look at the front wall of the building. Her appearance is not random. This whole construction project is guided by a style we call neo-Renaissance. This direction of construction returns to the ideals of beauty, order and harmony that we have known from centuries ago, but in a newer and more modern concept. Note how all shapes are aligned here and how the building looks balanced. And right now, look at the amazing paintings that decorate the front of the building. These shapes and colors you see were not conjured at random. Their creator was Mikolas Aleš, one of the greatest Czech artists of all time. He himself designed these paintings to inhale the national spirit of the building and to remind everyone who passes by our common history and culture. It's like an open book you can read with your eyes while standing right under it.

Even though you're standing outside now and you're sensing the atmosphere of the square, try to imagine for a moment what's going on inside these walls. The inner spaces of this town hall are just as amazing as its outer appearance. If you had the chance to enter, you would have encountered a rich decoration that would completely consume you. In particular, the ceremonial hall is a place that must impress you. It's preserved in the original, rich form it had over a hundred years ago. Every detail, every ornament in this hall has been designed to create a sense of grandeur and to underscore every event that takes place here by the dignity of this place. It's a space where history meets the present in every corner.

But this building is more than just a beautiful piece of architecture and painting. It is a witness to many important moments and meetings with people who have changed history. Imagine, for example, the year one thousand nine hundred twenty-six. At that time our country was a new country and the City Hall in Náchod had the great honour of hosting the President of Czechoslovakia himself, T. G. Masaryk. Imagine the seriousness and dignity that permeated this whole place when this great man was in these spaces. City Hall was a symbol of stability and prosperity for him and for the whole country.

And it wasn't just the joys this building had. History is always difficult and City Hall has witnessed difficult times. In the year one thousand nine hundred forty-five, when the end of the Great War and the liberation of our territory came, there was also a figure of General Zajončkovsky. These moments, when whole worlds change and people have to learn to live again in a new order, took place right here in these decorated spaces. This town hall therefore not only lays beauty, but also carries the weight of all the human destinies and historical breakthroughs that took place under its roof.

It's interesting how much people appreciate this place. By the year one thousand nine hundred sixty-four, this town hall was officially listed among cultural monuments. This means that its value has been recognised not only by local but by the whole country. It is a confirmation that what you see before you is not just an ordinary building, but a treasure that we have a duty to protect for future generations. It's proof that beauty and history have a constant price, no matter how fast the world around us changes.

Now that you know the story of this building, its creator and the great figures that were here, you might look at it a little differently. You will no longer see a tall building in the square, but a living organism that carries traces of artists, visions of architects, as well as excited and sad moments of historical events.

I hope that this brief insight into the past has brought you interesting ideas and that you like Náchod. The town hall will still stand here, as the silent guardian of the square, and wait for other visitors who will want to enjoy its beauty. Please continue to walk around the square, see other interesting places in our city and enjoy the atmosphere you are experiencing right now. Thank you for your attention and I wish you a beautiful rest of the day to discover our sights. Goodbye.