Town hall and Church of Saint Catherine, Gothic Town Hall and Church in Chomutov, Czech Republic.
The Town Hall and Church of Saint Catherine in Chomutov form a building complex of an early Gothic church with a polygonal presbytery completed in the 1280s, the former commandery of the Teutonic Order with a 43 × 13 m hall, and a Renaissance château. A tower from around 1400 stood at the western corner; the northwest wing, rebuilt in 1899, has a Renaissance portal with the coats of arms of the Veitmile and Glac families.
Bedřich of Chomutov donated the town to the German Order in 1252, and Přemysl Otakar II confirmed the gift in 1291. The commandery became the order's main holding in Bohemia and from 1335 the seat of the provincial commander. After 1411 the confiscated estate passed to lay owners, and from 1605 the repaired castle served as the town hall.
The church of Saint Catherine was deconsecrated in 1782 under Joseph II and converted by the city into a granary, so no Catholic services are held there today. The complex now serves as Chomutov's town hall, and the former commandery buildings house municipal offices.
The building sits on the Náměstí 1. máje square and is easily reached on foot from the town center, with the church holding regular services. The spaces are open to visitors, but it helps to check beforehand when prayers or events are happening.
The church of Saint Catherine was dissolved in 1782 under Joseph II and converted into a granary by the town. The complex became the town hall after 1605, when Rudolf II allowed Chomutov to buy its freedom from serfdom and the castle ceased to be a noble residence.
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