Radnice (Ústí nad Orlicí) Town hall

Welcome to the heart of Ústí nad Orlicí. Right now, standing in the middle of the Peace Square, you have before you one of the most important pillars of this place. Your eyes will probably be the first to capture that mighty tower. Its prism shape rises above the surrounding houses and dominates the entire area, thus determining the direction of view of anyone who goes for a walk here. This town hall is not just an ordinary building, it is a living witness for many years that the city has lived through, and a symbol of its strength and ability to rise again from the ashes.

Let us now look together deeper below the surface of this building and understand why it stands exactly as you see it. To understand the present, we need to go back a few centuries in time. There was a different town hall, an older one, and probably another. In 1705, however, the fate of the city brought great trials. The tragic fire destroyed the city hall and its surroundings at the time, which must have caused great fear and uncertainty among the residents. But the city did not fight, but instead began to plan a new future. It is from this rebirth that the baroque majesty you now feel stems. The new town hall was built between 1721 and 1723. This reconstruction process was crucial for the whole form of the square and for the whole community, because the town hall became the center of all kinds of urban events again.

Now pay attention to the architecture itself and the way this building is built. If you look at the total floor plan, you'll notice that the building is not just a simple square. It's an L-shaped object that has two wings and decomposes into one floor. This shape is very interesting because thanks to it the construction does not push space, but rather encircles it and creates a natural frame for this square. This proposal and the entire implementation were made by two important men of their time, Jan Kristián Auer and Johan Stehlík. Their work in Baroque style has given the building the right seriousness and elegance that you perceive today. The Baroque style tries to be harmonious and impressive, and that is what you see in this building. The tower I was talking about at the beginning is not just an ornament, but it is a fixed point that gives the whole construction its characteristic, square and clear appearance.

Now, if you approach the main entrance slowly, I suggest you stop at the main portal. It's right here, in the place where history touches your eyes closest. Look up, right above this opening. You'll see the prince of Liechtenstein. It is a symbol that reminds us of the links and influences that shaped life in this region at the time. Right next to this symbol is engraved by 1723. This year is not just an ordinary number, it is a reflection of the moment when this building was completed and when the city could once again boast of its new city hall. It is the date of victory over a devastating fire that, over 300 years ago, entered a new, promising period in the history of the city.

However, this building has never served only as a place for meetings of mayors and councilmen. Her role has changed over the centuries, just as the whole city has. At different times there was a district court, which means that important matters were decided for the wide area around you. The building was a place where law and justice met. Later this town hall became a home for the city museum. This means that in its walls were stored monuments and stories that defined the identity of people living in Ústí nad Orlicí. Although her functions were changing, her importance as the center of the city remained unshaken.

The interesting thing that may interest you is how this Baroque building managed to dominate the square despite its relatively low height, because it has only one floor. It is the prism tower and the way in which the wings of the building are placed that create the impression of stability and unwavering. It's a fascinating example of how architecture can control space around it without having to be disproportionately huge.

Now that you've gone over the main features of this historic monument, I suggest you continue your walk around the Peace Square. Look at the other houses that surround this place, and try to imagine what this square looked like at the time when the first bell rang from the new tower in 1723. Every stone and every line of this town hall has something to tell you if you look at them with patience. Thank you for spending this moment right here with me. I wish you a beautiful and inspiring visit to our city.