Smíchovská radnice Town hall

Welcome to the heart of Smíchov. You are standing in front of a building that tells the story of the rise of one of Prague's most important neighborhoods by its appearance and history. In front of you is Smíchovská radnice, a building that served as the administrative center of the then village Smíchov in its greatest glory. If you look at her now, you'll see a building that radiates dignity and stability. It is a place where in the past the fate of local people was decided, where disputes were resolved and the development of the area was planned. Now let's go back in time together to understand how this building was created. It all began in the year of eight hundred forty eight, when the first election of the municipal council Smíchova took place. It was a period of great change and the need for its own administration became necessary. A few years later, in the year eight hundred and fifty-three, the original building was built in the place where you are now standing. At the time, however, she looked quite different than today. Imagine a one-story building instead of the present house. It was a more modest building, which was supposed to perform its function, but did not reflect the ambitious growth Smíchov experienced in the coming decades. Now pay attention to the architecture itself before you. The building is today in a neo-Renaissance style, which means it draws on the elements of the Renaissance, but interprets them in a way that was modern in the devięth century. Look at the front of the house. Notice his eight-axis facade, which means the building has eight windows wide. This rhythm gives the construction balance and symmetry. Your eyes should now go higher. Look up at the clock tower that dominates the entire city hall. The tower is not only a practical element for time monitoring, but it also served as a symbol of the city's power and independence. In addition to the tower, note the plastic decoration on the facade. If you look closely, you will see a city emblem that proudly resembles the identity of Smíchov. The whole project in its later form was worth the architect Josef Schulz, who was able to combine the functionality of the administrative building with aesthetic beauty. In order to understand why the building looks like this, we need to stop by the key personalities that were connected to this place. One of the most important characters was the Purkmaster Josef Barth. He was a man with a vision, a builder and a man who wanted the best for Smíchov. In the year eight hundred and fifty-eight he made a very bold move. He bought the whole house for $17,000. It was a considerable sum at the time, but it was an investment in the future of the village for Mr. Barth. It is thanks to its activities and the subsequent development of an area where important people such as František Ringhoffer or Antonín Popp were active, Smíchov became an industrial centre. People who formed the economic backbone of Prague met in the building at different times, and there were no visitors of high personalities, including Emperor Franz Joseph first. Now let's get to the part that might interest you. You might wonder why the building is so high and massive when we mentioned that it originally only had one floor. The answer lies in the year eight hundred and seventy-four. This year, there was an extensive reconstruction that essentially created the city hall as you see it today. The building was increased by one floor and the clock tower was added at this time. This change was not only aesthetic, but a direct reflection of how fast Smíchov grew. The village became richer and more important, so her town hall had to grow along with her. It is fascinating to think that one building can be such a mirror to social and economic progress. The interesting fact is that this building, located in Štefánik Street under number 13, is now protected by law. Since the year nine hundred seventy-six it has been registered as a real-estate cultural monument. This means that its value is no longer only in administrative use, but in its historical and architectural value for the whole city. When you look at it today, you see not only walls and windows, but a monument to the time when a small village became a modern urban district. Feel the atmosphere of this place now. Smíchov has changed around this town hall many times. From the industrial suburb with the factories he became a modern center with offices and shops, but this building remains a fixed point that connects the past with the present. He is a silent witness to all the changes that took place in Prague for five years. I hope this short trip to history has helped you to better perceive the beauty and importance of Smíchov Town Hall. Look at her for the last time in one piece, see her neoRenaissance line, and remember Purkmaster Barth and his seventeen thousand gold ones that helped create this place. I now invite you to further explore the area. Smíchov has another story hidden in every street waiting to be discovered. We wish you a pleasant continued journey and enjoy the beauty of our city. Goodbye.