In Havlíčkův Brod, renovations of the Old Town Hall have been completed; it will serve culture

Havlíčkův Brod - The repairs of the historic building of the Old Town Hall in Havlíčkův Brod have been completed. Construction workers have been working on it in stages for almost 14 years. A new information center will open on June 17 on the ground floor, leading to vaulted spaces with an interactive historical exhibition and a large model of the city, as well as a hall for temporary exhibitions. Additional halls for various cultural events are located on the first floor of the building.

"As is evident, it has become somewhat of a community house. We will use it for cultural events and various social occasions," said Mayor Zbyněk Stejskal (ODS) to reporters before today's ceremonial opening of the renovated building. He noted that on June 19, the Old Town Hall will host an off-site meeting of the government.

The Old Town Hall was created by connecting three older houses after a fire in 1662 and was rebuilt in the Renaissance style. It is part of a group of historic town halls, whose designation as national cultural monuments was approved by the government last December.

"When assessing the building, it played a role that throughout the centuries, the individual construction modifications were made with great sensitivity," stated Deputy Mayor Libor Honzárek (TOP 09). During the current repairs, historical structures were supplemented in places with contemporary materials. The building now also has an elevator.

The repairs of the Old Town Hall cost over 100 million crowns in total, with the city receiving about 18 million from various subsidy programs. In the last phase, which began last year, the newly modified spaces that the regional library used before its move to a new building on Žižková Street were renovated. These works cost over 35 million crowns, and the city spent another six million on equipping the exhibitions and other rooms.

The entire reconstruction was carried out gradually in four phases, led by architect Aleš Burian. He told ČTK that it was probably one of his longest constructions. He noted that when he looks back, he sees some mistakes. "But I think that in the overall impression, we need not have any gloom about it; it is quite a joyous environment and that culture could thrive here," he said.

In the façade of the Old Town Hall, there is a skeleton in a niche under the clock. According to legend, it resembles a town crier who supposedly betrayed the city long ago. Honzárek stated that this legend is not real. According to him, the skeleton could have been at the town hall since the 17th century. "It wasn't that uncommon back then. Human skeletons were often placed in public spaces as a symbol of the transience of life," he said. In the new exhibition, visitors will also see a wooden sculpture of the skeleton Hnát from 1946. It is located in the ground floor hall, along with an extensive model of Havlíčkův Brod, depicting its appearance in the mid-20th century.