Husův dům, Cultural monument in Prachatice, Czech Republic

Husův dům is a two-storey corner house at Husova and Věžní streets, originally Gothic and rebuilt in Renaissance style between 1540 and 1557. Its façade carries Renaissance sgraffiti in the form of small squares, ornaments and figures, and ends in a volute attic with two scroll gables of Lombard Renaissance form. The entrance on Husova Street has a vaulted stone portal carved with rosettes and geometric ornament.

The core of the house is Gothic, with its vaulted cellars and rear section dating from the town's founding at the end of the 13th century. It was rebuilt in Renaissance style between 1540 and 1557, when the sgraffiti were added. Until 1950 it was called Žižkův dům, after Jan Žižka, who demonstrably stayed in Prachatice in 1422 and wrote letters from here after conquering the town in 1420. Since 1966 it has housed the library.

The house was called Žižkův dům until 1950, after Jan Žižka, who is said to have lodged here; he demonstrably stayed in Prachatice in 1422 and sent letters from the town. The name Husův dům comes from a tradition that Jan Hus lived here while attending the town school, once recorded in a whitewashed inscription in one room. Since 1966 the building has housed the town library.

The house is used by the Municipal Library of Prachatice, which has occupied it since 1966, so visits follow the library's opening hours rather than a tour programme. Enter from Husova Street through the Renaissance stone portal with carved rosettes and a volute keystone; the corner of Husova and Věžní streets is the best spot to see the sgraffiti and the volute gable.

Until 1950 the house was called Žižkův dům, after Jan Žižka, who supposedly attended the Latin school here. No source proves that, but Žižka did stay in Prachatice in 1422, writing letters from the town after his 1420 conquest. The two oral traditions were probably merged into one legend.