Dvůr Králové nad Labem

Old Town Hall

It was built in the year 1572, after the burgher house which used to stand in its place burned down. The original gable used to face Kostelní (now Palackého) Street and, on the side facing the square, it had a tower supported by two pillars. In the year 1790 the Town Hall burned down, and in the year 1833 it acquired it present form, although its façade underwent certain changes.

On the town hall’s façade there’s a clock and a Latin inscription. In addition to the hour and minute hands, the clock had one more hand which divided the day into twenty four parts. The green dial with the numbers 1 to 24 still remains on the building today. The Latin inscription HAEC DOMUS ODIT AMAT PUNIT CONSERVAT HONORAT NEQUITIAM PACEM CRIMINA IVRA PROBOS proclaims: “This house hates wickedness, loves peace, punishes crimes, preserves rights and honours the noble.”.

Today it contains the town’s ceremonial premises, and an exhibition hall.

Town Savings Bank

One of the square’s dominant features is the Art Nouveau Czech Savings Bank building from the years 1909-1910. Its right wing was added later, and it only acquired its present form in the year 1930.

Fountain with statue of Záboj

It was created by local sculptors František and Antonín Wagner. The fountain with statue of Záboj was unveiled in the square on the 29th of September 1857, at the 40th anniversary celebrations of the discovery of the Manuscript of Dvůr Králové. In the year 1950 it relocated to the outskirts of the town, and in the year 2005 it was returned to the exact place in the square where it had formerly stood.

It is an allegorical celebration of the mother tongue and Czechdom. Záboj, a character from the Manuscript of Dvůr Králové, is wearing an old Slavic folk costume and is girded with a sword; his right hand rests on a shield a his left hand presses a varyto (an old Czech musical instrument) against his heart. He stands on a rock from which three springs of water gush, symbolizing purity, health and stability. Under the statue, the name Záboj is carved into the rock, and slightly below it are the words: “You speak to them with fatherly words,” which indicates that we shoumld appreciate and cultivate the Czech language.

Marian Pillar