HOUSE NO. 21 (ORIGINALLY NO. 71)
History
The origins of the house date back to the second third of the 16th century, a period when Jáchymov experienced extraordinary growth connected with silver mining. The rapid development of the town led to the creation of its characteristic burgher houses, which combined residential, commercial, and economic functions.
House No. 21 was built as a Renaissance burgher house corresponding to the architectural tradition of Jáchymov at that time. It differed from ordinary houses mainly due to its important corner location and its layout extended by a side courtyard wing. This feature demonstrates how buildings were adapted to individual plots and the needs of their inhabitants.
Despite numerous fires that affected Jáchymov in the past, the basic structure of the house has survived from the time of its construction. More significant changes mainly affected the façade and parts of the interiors. After the great town fire of 1782, the façade acquired its Late Baroque appearance, which still defines the character of the building today. Further modifications followed after the devastating fire of 1873. These alterations, however, did not suppress the Renaissance character of the house but enriched it with architectural elements of later periods.
In more recent history, probably during the 19th or early 20th century, the house was reportedly used by the Order of Poor Clares. This period represents one of the later chapters in the life of the building and illustrates changes in its use over several centuries.
Description
The house has two above-ground floors and faces the square with its eaves side. It is covered by a gable roof with folded sheet metal roofing.
The main façade consists of four regular axes of paired windows and reflects the Late Baroque reconstruction carried out after the fire of 1782. The main entrance is located in the second axis from the left and is highlighted by a Baroque stone surround with a keystone in the centre of the lintel. Typical decorative elements are the so-called ears with drops, which also appear in a simpler form on the window surrounds.
The façade is articulated by corner rustication and additional rustication dividing the main frontage. Other prominent architectural features include richly profiled cornices – a string course separating the individual floors and a crowning cornice closing the upper part of the building.
The side façade has retained a more irregular character reflecting the long architectural development of the house. Some older window openings were walled up during later alterations, while several preserved their Baroque surrounds.
A particularly valuable feature of the building is its preserved original Renaissance layout, typical of Jáchymov burgher houses from the second third of the 16th century. A distinctive element is the side courtyard wing, part of which contained a black kitchen – a separate room used for preparing food over an open fire. This feature recalls the everyday operation of historic households before the spread of more modern heating and cooking methods.
The preserved roof structure is also worthy of attention. The beams bear original carpenter’s marks, which craftsmen used to identify individual prepared parts of the construction. Today, these marks represent a valuable record of the work of old master carpenters.
Present Day
House No. 21 belongs among the valuable buildings of the historic centre of Jáchymov. Its importance lies not only in its architecture itself but also in its ability to reveal several layers of the town’s development. The Renaissance structure recalls the era of Jáchymov’s silver prosperity, the Baroque façade represents the period of renewal after the town fires, and the later alterations document further chapters in the life of this house.
Photo gallery: https://www.rajce.idnes.cz/mipalfi/album/dum-c-p-21
