The original Town Hall building stood in the middle of Frýdlant Square. Over time its premises were evaluated as no longer being satisfactory and in 1893 the construction of a new, contemporary building of the Town Hall commenced. The construction was completed 3 years later, i. e. in 1896. The building of the Old Town Hall, howewer, stood in square until 1897, so there are period photograps on which you can find both buildings on the square and it is also well visible, for example, from the Town Hall tower.
The Town Hall building is in the style of the German neo-Renaissance, made of rough, fair-faced bricks. Buildings elements such as cornices, shields and ornaments are carved from sandstone. The building has caller spaces, a courtyard, a ground floor, a 1st floor, a 2sn floor and an attic from which the tower gallery is accessible.
The courtyard of the Town Hall is mainly designated for the town cultural events. It serves as a venue for concerts, theatre performances or vernissages and it is also a popular place of rest for visitors. There are three stone slabs with coats of arms on the wall of the courtyard. These slabs were originally placed on the Old Town Hall building and after its demolition they were transferred to the wall od the existing Town Hall. We can find there the couat of arms of Anton Pancratius Rudolph Gallas and his wife Victoria, neé de Arco, Duchess of Lucera. Also the coat of arms of Matthias Gallas and his second wife, Anna Marie Dotothea, neé od Lofron, and last is the coat of arms of Melichor of Redern and his wife Catherine, neé Shlick.
The interior of the Town Hall and the vestibule are used extensively for exhibition purposes.
Above the main staircase to the 1st floor is a bust of Albrecht of Wallenstein, created by Heinrich Scholz from nearby Raspenava. There are also stained-glass window above the staircase, which shows the names of the companies and the local industrialists who contributed dinancially to the construction of the Town Hall. The stained-glass windows are the work of Johann Ressel.
A Ceremonial Hall is on the 1st floor od the Town Hall. Important social events such as concerts, weddings, new citizens´welcoming, handover of school results and meetings with important city guests take place there. The ceremonial hall features a brass chandelier and a stained glass window above the balcony entrance.
On the 2nd floor of the Town Hall, there is Municipal Museum that was founded in 1909 by Julius Kraus who was also its first director. The exhibition is divided into several parts with i rich collection of items.
On side of the square the Town Hall is decorated with interesting sculptures. You will find them on the sides of the balcony, which carries an arcade and above which is a stained glass window of the Ceremonial Hall. The statues come from a workshop of Viennese sculptor Friedel: the left one represents an allegory of work and dedication, while the right one represents fidelity and justice. The shield is dominated by a town emblem held by two squires.
Foto: Radek Petrášek
Map
Frýdlant