Old Town Hall in Litoměřice, a new national cultural monument, will open in January

Litoměřice – The Old Town Hall in Litoměřice, which houses a museum, has been declared a national cultural monument. This increases the protection of the Renaissance building, which recently completed extensive reconstruction this year. Visitors will be able to view the building after the New Year. An exhibition is currently being installed on the ground floor. A permanent exhibition is being prepared and will be ready by the turn of the years 2025 and 2026. Museum director Tomáš Wiesner told ČTK today.

A national cultural monument is defined as a cultural monument that is the most important part of the cultural wealth of the nation. "Nothing fundamentally changes for us, all work on the premises must be consulted with conservationists, which we have done until now," Wiesner stated. The building is owned by the city, while the museum is established by the Ústí nad Labem region. "For the city, the declaration of the town hall as a national cultural monument means mainly prestige and a commitment to not neglect the care of monuments," said city hall spokeswoman Eva Břeňová to ČTK.

The reconstruction of the building lasted two years. The costs amounted to 53 million crowns, seven million crowns were paid by the city hall, and the rest was covered by European funding. A glazed elevator and modern technology were added to one of the most valuable monuments in the city. A network of cables allows for full Wi-Fi coverage throughout the 14th-century building and lighting of exhibits as needed. One room, which will display the oldest Gothic art, is air-conditioned. Almost everything had to be repaired except for the facade, which was restored by builders 11 years ago.

The ground floor features a space for a café and reception, the entire first floor is dedicated to exhibition spaces, and the second floor will accommodate a permanent exhibition focused on the history of the brewing and wine region. People were able to view the building in September during special guided tours, which attracted significant interest.

From the beginning of 2024, it will be possible to visit the interiors, which are still in their clean, unencumbered form, and also to glimpse the unique meeting room, which the restorers have reinstated to its original colors. The history and course of the renovation of the protected building will be highlighted by an exhibition that is part of the visitor route. Tours can be booked at the museum's ticket office. Tours will take place from Tuesday to Friday between 12:30 PM and 2:30 PM, and on weekends from 8:30 AM to 12:30 PM.

Architects are now preparing a project for a new permanent exhibition. Its establishment will cost 43 million crowns, which the Ústí nad Labem region has secured funding from European funds for. "It must be done very carefully, because it will be here for another 30 years," the director stated.

Last week, the government approved the declaration of 14 historical town halls, the monument of King George of Podebrady in Podebrady, the castle and chateau in Poběžovice, and two historical trams as national cultural monuments. In the Ústí nad Labem region, the town hall in Kadaň was also designated a national cultural monument.