Stará radnice v Jindřichově Hradci Town hall

Welcome to Henry's Hradec. Please stop for a moment and feel the atmosphere of this place. You are standing in front of the Old Town Hall building, which is one of the most important symbols of power, administration and history throughout the city. Look at her facade. Even though they seem calm and noble today, the walls of this house retain the memory of centuries, full of great hopes, but also deep tragedies. This building is not just an ordinary office, it is a silent witness to Henry's Hradec changing, growing and being reborn from the ashes.

Let us now return together in time far beyond your sight. The roots of this building range back to the fifth century, namely the year of the thousand four hundred ninety-three. It is this year that the oldest references to the building are linked to the installation of the Town Hall Tower. Imagine the time when the tower was the highest point in the area and served not only for decoration, but above all for babysitting the city. From there, we were looking at whether the enemy was approaching the gates, or if there was a dangerous spark on the streets. At that time, the town hall was the heart of urban life, a place where the fate of craftsmen, merchants and residents were decided.

However, the history of this building is not just a story of gradual growth. In the year one thousand eight hundred and one of the darkest chapters of the city's history took place here. The fire, which was the largest in Henry Hradec's entire history at that time, was ignited. The flames were so devastating that they completely destroyed City Hall and swallowed up two-thirds of all the city houses. Imagine the chaos, dust and despair of the people who lost their homes and their administration. The city basically ceased to exist in the form it knew. But it was in this tragedy that the incredible strength and determination of the local people showed up. Instead of giving up, they decided to rebuild the city in the spirit of the modern era.

Now pay attention to the appearance of the building that you are currently facing. What you see is the result of this great recovery. The town hall was rebuilt in a neoclassical style, which was a style that returned to the principles of the ancients, to balance, purity of lines and nobility. The reconstruction was led by the architect Josef Schaffer and the whole building was completed in the year one thousand eight hundred and seven. Notice the harmony and order that this style brings. The building was not only supposed to be a practical residence, but it was meant to emit stability and dignity.

But if you look deeper into the history of the building, you'll find that her face didn't end in the nineteenth century. At the beginning of the twentieth century, namely in the year one thousand and nine hundred and five, another significant intervention came. The ceremonial hall, which is located in the building, was rebuilt by the famous architect Jan Kotěra. Kotěra was the master of his craft and was able to bring new energy and modern feeling into space without disturbing the overall character of the building. It is fascinating to think that on one building there were such various creators as Václav Fiedler, Josef Schaffer and Jan Kotěra, and each of them put a piece of their time into it.

The city hall is also associated with the names of prominent personalities. Among them is King Vladislav Jagellonský, whose influence and presence in the region have left a trail throughout the city. There is also a memory of Master Hanuš of Rose, a figure that has influenced the surroundings by its activities. These people were not just names in chronicles, but the real creators of history, who probably walked in these spaces, discussed and decided on the future of the region.

Now, I want to take you to one interesting thing that might surprise you. Look at the space right outside the entrance to the building. Today there is peace and space to walk, but in the past it looked completely different. Until the middle of the eighteenth century, there was a stone duster. It was a chain column that was used for public punishment. People who have broken laws or urban regulations have been exposed here to the ridicule and contempt of other people. It was a harsh way of maintaining order, which today seemed terrifying, but was a normal part of urban life. Imagine the contrast between the noble architecture of the town hall and the harsh reality of the duster standing right at her door.

But the City Hall building is constantly undergoing changes to serve generations to come. The last year, two thousand fourteen, a major reconstruction began, which was aimed at modernising the building and preparing it for the public in its new role. Today, the City Hall is no longer the administrative center of power, but the Old Town Hall Exhibition House. It's a meeting point with art and history. Inside it is a museum and galleries that are open to anyone who wants to understand who Henry's people were and where they're going.

When you enter, I suggest you pay attention to permanent exposure. It is dedicated to the entire history of the city, from its earliest beginnings to the present. You will be able to see objects, documents and images here, which will help you connect everything you've just heard into one big picture. Feel how the medieval past intersects with neoclassical elegance and modern elements of the twentieth century.

The whole house is today protected as a cultural monument, which means it is our joint task to ensure that its beauty and importance are not lost in time. So you're standing in front of a building that survived fires, wars and regime changes. It's a symbol of endurance and the ability to start again, even though everything seems to be lost.

Now, let's invite you to take a closer look at City Hall. Come in, get carried away by stories from the museum and discover the beauty of art in the gallery. Go through the halls that once hosted the city council and the festival, and try to imagine what kind of conversations we had here hundreds of years ago. I hope this short trip to history helped you see the Old Town Hall not only as a building of stone and mortar, but as a living organism that breathes the history of Henry Hradec.

I wish you a pleasant tour and inspiring moments in the premises of the Old Town Hall Exhibition House. When you continue your journey through the city, don't forget to stop and look at the details of the surrounding houses, because each of them can hide their own unique story. Goodbye and enjoy your stay in our beautiful city.