Radnice v Českém Dubu Town hall

Radnice v Českém Dubu is one of the most important Renaissance buildings of this kind in the Czech Republic. The building with eight-sided tower is situated in the middle of Bedřich Smetana Square. It is registered as a cultural monument and forms part of the urban monument zone announced in September 1992.

The city Český Dub is one of the oldest settlements in northern Bohemia. His history goes back to Roman times. During the 15th century, the city was hit twice in the fall of Hussite troops between 1425 and 1429. That's when Prokop Holý's troops destroyed the Johanite commendation. In the second half of the 15th century, the fires and raids of Lusatian Six Cities followed. After 1490 Jan from Vartenberk began to build a new town and built a house in the square. Significant development occurred after 1552, when the estate was acquired by Jan z Oppersdorfu. In 1552 he rebuilt the original Romanesque monastery and a late Gothic castle, granted the city privileges and in 1565 he built a new town hall. During the beginning of the town hall in the 16th century, Czech countries were under the rule of the Habsburg monarchs Ferdinand I. and Maximilian II. In the 17th century, the city began to lose its meaning. A big fire from 1694, which also damaged city hall, contributed to this.

The building is situated in the middle of Bedřich Smetana Square and has a rectangular plan with southwest part extended to the form of risalites. At the north corner, there is an eight-sided five-storey tower ending in onion fighting with lantern. The roof is saddled and covered with bags. The building has two floors above ground and a basement, which is accessible by an internal three-arm staircase and an outdoor staircase. The internal arrangement includes six transverse tracts. Two southwest are the extension from 1905 to 1907. The interior preserved half-circle rolled vaults, brick rolled vaults in the undertower and several Renaissance portals. There is a Baroque plague column from 1723 outside the town hall with a statue of the Virgin Mary and Saint Florian, John Nepomuk, František Xaversky and Rocha.

During the 16th century, the oak estate belonged to the Oppersdorfs. In 1838, the Rohan family won the estate. Since 1843, the Czech-German factory Franz Schmitt has started its business in Český Dubu, which has been significantly worthy of restoring the city's development.

The 1590 report states that Shenko was located in the town hall building. After a big fire in 1694, which destroyed houses, church, school, hospital and damaged the town hall, repairs of the town hall until 1733. Other partial adjustments followed in 1800 and 1801. At the beginning of the 20th century, namely between 1905 and 1907, the town hall underwent a large reconstruction according to the design of Viennese architect Wilhelm Klingenberg. The implementation project was developed by the Liberec architect Ernst Schäfer. During this reconstruction, a new south wing with a large council hall on the first floor was established. A new representative staircase was built into the older Renaissance section.

Today, the building serves as a valuable historical landmark in the centre of the city monument zone. It combines the original Renaissance core with the Neo-Renaissance and Art-Nouveau elements. The visit to this building offers a unique view of the development of the North Bohemian region and represents an ideal destination for everyone interested in Czech architecture and history.