Radnice (Žatec) Town hall

Welcome to the heart of Zatka. Right now, you're standing in Freedom Square, and there's a building in front of you that's been the center of the city for centuries. It's the Žatec City Hall. When you look at it now, you see a dignified building unit that dominates the surrounding space with its presence. It's a place where the history of city administration connects to the everyday life of the people. Feel the atmosphere of this square, which surrounds the conservation sites, and remember that it was in front of this building that decisions were made, which fundamentally affected the fate of thousands of people in this region.

Now let's go back a little bit in time to understand how this building was created. The first written mention of City Hall dates back to a thousand three hundred sixty-two. So imagine what the world was like back then, when the first foundation fell. The building was founded at the time in the spirit of goth, which was a style that emphasized vertical and spiritual ascension. We have reports of the completion of the construction itself from a thousand three hundred seventy-six. At that time, the town hall was already fully central to the city administration, a place where councillors met, decrees were issued and disputes between citizens were resolved. It was basically the heart of an urban organism without which the city could not function effectively.

Now pay attention to the appearance of the building itself. Even though its roots are deep in gotics, time has left its mark at City Hall. If you look at the facade, you will notice that the building has undergone a significant reconstruction in later times. You are currently seeing a look that is influenced by classicism. This style brought to architecture order, balance and purity of lines, which gives the town hall its present, noble character. In the year of the thousand and five hundred and fifty-nine there was another extensive reconstruction, this time in the spirit of the Renaissance, which added to the building's representativeness. Also look up at the tower, which is an essential part of this object. The tower was not only an ornament, but it served as a prospect and symbol of the city's power and independence. The whole location of the building was chosen deliberately to be at the centre of the event and easily accessible to all citizens.

When we look at these walls, we can ask what happened inside. The history of City Hall is not just about administrative acts and council meetings. It's a place full of contrasts. Let's think about what happened downstairs. Nowadays, only officials reside in the town hall, but in the past the ground floor was a living and noisy place. Imagine the smell of fresh bread from the bakery, the smell of soap soap from the soap shop or the noise of the leaf of the party who sold their fabrics. There was also room for a pharmacy where herbal medicine was being prepared, and let's not forget about the shish, where people could have a glass of beer and discuss the news from the neighborhood. So the town hall was basically a small business center where different social layers were mixed.

However, the building had a darker side. The town hall was not only used for business and administration, but the city hall was also located here. These walls were closed by people who violated the urban order. The interesting thing is that there was a special prison for people from the upper classes. Even in such a narrow space, people found a way to believe, because the building had its own prison chapel where the prisoner could seek comfort and repentance. It is fascinating to think that at the same time there was joy in trading on the ground floor and sadness of imprisonment in other parts of the building.

The history of the city hall will lead us to a much newer and more painful time. In the year one thousand nine hundred thirty eight, the building became the seat of the Gestapo. This is a period which recalls how the functions of one building can change depending on the political regime. From a place of self-government and civic life, the town hall has for time turned into a place of fear and oppression. It is important to talk about these phases, because they make this building a monument not only to architecture, but also to the human fate and history of the entire region.

Things are different now. The building serves its original purpose again and is the seat of the City Office Žatec. It is a place where the future of the city is still being decided, but already in the spirit of democracy and service to the citizens. When you look at the building, try to connect all these layers. From Gothic foundations to Renaissance and Classicist details to tragic moments of the twentieth century. It all together creates the unique character of the Žatec Town Hall.

Notice how harmonically the building fits into the entire Liberty Square. It's a line that connects the past to the present. It's proof that cities aren't just house files, but they're living organisms that grow, change and adapt to new needs. City Hall survived fires, wars, and regime changes, and it's still standing here as guardian of the Žetek identity.

Now that you've learned about secret prisons, old craftsmen and architectural changes, I suggest you go around the building once more. Feel the size of it and think of all the people who have been going through it in the last nearly 700 years. Which one was standing right where you're standing? What were they thinking when they were looking at City Hall Tower?

I hope this short trip to history has helped you better understand the importance of this place. Žatec has many other secrets in store waiting to be revealed. I invite you to continue to explore the city centre and discover other corners of this beautiful monument reservation. We wish you a pleasant walk and a beautiful day in our city. This concludes our City Hall description, you can now remove or turn on the next part of the guide. Goodbye.