The square in Postoloprty tells the story of Oldřich and Božena through its paved image

Postoloprty - In Postoloprty, located in the Louny region, a renovation of the town square has been completed for over one hundred million crowns, based on the design by architect Roman Koucký. The square features a paved depiction of the wedding of Oldřich and Božena with a horse and a priest, in whose figure the text of the legend is inscribed. The historical core of this five-thousand-strong town is complemented by a restored baroque fountain with unique clock, a column with a sculpture, fountains, and a modified bus stop. The town hall will present the work to the public on Saturday during the Postoloprtské festivities. This was stated by Mayor Zdeněk Pištora (independent).

The transformation of Mírové náměstí, which had cracked concrete, broken curbs, and a dry fountain, began in 2024. According to the mayor, discussions about the renovation have been ongoing since the 1990s. Ten years ago, city councilors commissioned a study from architect Koucký. "He came up with the revolutionary idea to develop a depiction on the square based on a fragment of the Dalimil Chronicle discovered in Paris in 2005," Pištora stated. With the help of differently colored paving stones, the silhouettes of the prince, his wife, and the priest are represented. This is complemented by the silhouette of a horse, with plants in the background, similar to those in the chronicle. The figure of the priest contains a 14th-century text that describes the prince's meeting with a simple girl. The work is enhanced by jets and misting features in a separate area of different paving that represents the Ohře River.

Near the bus stop adjacent to the square and the church, a separate small square has been created, which will in the future bear the name Farní. The entrance portal to the bus stop consists of three-meter-high letters spelling the name of the town. Behind these letters is the bus stop infrastructure, public toilets, a shop, and an electronic information system about bus connections.

Restorers have cared for the northern castle wall with a gate, the column with the group of Piety, and the historic fountain from the 18th century, which had become a victim of unprofessional and destructive interventions during the previous regime. Under the guidance of sculptor Marcel Hron, experts restored the stone work to its original form while installing modern technology within the heritage site. The piping and electrical system that now supplies the fountain and enables the function of the water clock is closely related to the water features across the square. An important element is also the new lighting for the water jets. Attentive visitors will quickly understand the function of the water clock, which shows the time with an accuracy of five minutes. "It is a world unique," the mayor noted.

Experts also dedicated attention to the lighting of the square and city objects, including the church. Special furniture was created for the square, and the area has been complemented by newly planted young trees, including a conifer that will serve as a living Christmas tree.

While there were occasional complaints during the challenging reconstruction, the mayor claims that residents are now satisfied. They will meet at the school parade on Saturday during the city festivities. This year, the celebrations will be in honor of a hundred years of the primary school, which will again bear the name Masarykova. "We will also unveil a statue of Masaryk and then move to the square, where the program will continue," the mayor stated. Interested parties can find details on the city's Facebook page. A video showcasing the water features in the square can be viewed on their YouTube channel.

The town, with 4,700 residents and managing income of approximately 120 million crowns, paid 115 million crowns for the renovation. The mayor stated that the city leadership strives to manage resources well and make extensive use of grants.