The Old Town Hall

The Old Town Hall - nowadays
Author: Fotoatelier "In courtyard" (Ve dvoře)

The Old Town Hall has existed since the time of the city's Hussite occupation. The building's nucleus, vaultage, and underpass into Fortenska street had been built before 1560. Its massive cellars once had contained a torture chamber, and the town's archive and charter.

In 1721 the Town Hall was renovated in baroque style by Jan Blazej Santini. While work on the project was in progress, a large stone eagle that was being hoisted into place broke loose and shattered on the ground, breaking both legs of a soldier of the Herberstein regiment. The unfortunate man died and the town was then obliged to furnish a surrogate to replace him. The building continues to bear the emblem of the Holy Roman Empire containing the emblem of the Kingdom of Bohemia. The city emblem is above the baroque portal.

The intended purpose of the Town Hall is described in a Latin inscription carved into the façade, which translated states,

"TThis house detests injustice, loves peace, punishes crime, preserves rights, respects honorable people."

Gunpowder had been stored here by the garrison until 1763 when it was moved to the middle Lower gate.

The building burned out in 1806 and its inner reconstruction was carried out by local builder Jindrich Hausknecht. The sculptures Justitia and Caritas by sculptor Devoty of Hrochuv Tynec were added to the tower's façade.

The tower clock was added in 1836.