Dům U Drahomířina sloupu, Renaissance house in Hradčany, Czech Republic.
Dům U Drahomířina sloupu stands on Loretánské Square, blending architectural layers from multiple periods into a single structure. Its Renaissance facade conceals Baroque interiors above, with a Gothic cellar forming the oldest layer beneath the building.
A major fire in 1541 destroyed medieval buildings in the area, leading to the construction of this Renaissance structure between 1573 and 1579 under Michal Khekh's direction. This rebuilding project reshaped the district's architectural character for centuries to come.
The building takes its name from a column statue that once stood nearby, reflecting how local landmarks shaped the district's identity. This naming tradition reveals the importance of visual markers in the neighborhood's memory and daily life.
The building has been out of service since April 2019 and can only be viewed from the outside while wandering through the district. Daylight hours are best for observing the facade and its architectural details as you explore the neighborhood.
From 1948 onward, the house was home to Hana Benešová, widow of President Edvard Beneš, commemorated by a memorial plaque on the building. This connection to mid-century Czechoslovak political life adds another layer to the structure's significance.
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