Radnice (Rychnov nad Kněžnou) Town hall

The town hall in Rychnov nad Knežně is a historical monument that attracts visitors with its architectural design and rich past. Located on the northwest side of the Old Square in the village Rychnov nad Kněžnou and is protected as a cultural monument since 2003. This building, built in the early 19th century, illustrates historical urban buildings with a number of younger modifications and is evidence of the development of architecture from late Baroque to Classicism.

The original town hall in Rychnov was wooden, the first record of it dates back to 1596. The clock tower on the house was erected already in 1565 for municipal use. During the Thirty Years' War, the building survived many difficulties and burned to the ground in 1653. After the fire, a new wooden town hall in the early Baroque style was built, which was demolished at the end of the 18th century. In 1800- 1804 a representative building was built according to the design of Josef Wilhelm Ehrmann in the late Baroque style, which gradually adapted to the elements of classicism.

Architecturally, the town hall is a single storey with a three-axis floor opening to the square of three high arcade arches. These arches are the remains of the 16th century buildings which were walled up in the 1960s and subsequently filled with glass interpretations and doors. The original arch with a valence arch is visible behind the entrance door as well as inside the entrance hall. The building is in the middle and part of the right side of the basement.

In the basement, there used to be a torture chamber and later warehouses of merchants, which suggests its important position in local society. Since 1850, the district court has been located in the building c. k. In the 1960s, three arches in the front of the town hall into the square were sealed.

Today, on the ground floor of the building, the Municipal Information Centre is located, while on the floor there is a fast-moving Toy Museum with the exposure of Magdalena Dobaly Rettig. The memory plate of this author is located at the middle window of the first floor, which reminds her of her important role in society.

The town hall in Rychnov nad Knežně is not only an architectural monument but also a witness to many historical events and changes. Its rich past and architecture make it an important place to visit, offering a view of the past and the present city of Rychnov nad Kněžnou.