PATRICIAN HOUSE NO. 126
Introduction
House No. 126 originated in the mid-sixteenth century, during a period of exceptional economic and architectural development. It represents a typical patrician house of this era, when representative architecture reflected the social standing and administrative role of its owners.
History
The house belonged to the mayor Johann Müller of Bergen, a member of the town elite in the second half of the sixteenth century. Between 1565 and 1567 he served as mining master and simultaneously as mayor. These positions represented important offices within the administration of the mining town.
Only limited biographical information about Johann Müller has survived. His name is known mainly from official records and from material evidence, particularly the house sign and his ownership of this residence. Nevertheless, he can be regarded as a significant representative of municipal administration during the town’s period of greatest development.
After the great fire of 1873, the building was substantially altered and acquired essentially the appearance that has been preserved to the present day.
The house also served for a time as the municipal jail. From this function, three sheet-metal-covered prison doors with small inspection windows have been preserved, set within stone portals.
Description
The building is a two-storey burgher house with a gabled roof and four dormer windows. The façade is decorated with a Renaissance house sign of the Müller family, placed in the tympanum of the entrance portal, representing a valuable heraldic and stonemasonry detail.
The carriage passage leads into the courtyard and is framed by a stone surround. Preserved architectural elements testify to the Renaissance origin of the structure, although it underwent several alterations over the centuries.
Restoration
In 2004 the Renaissance house sign was restored. In 2010 the stone surround of the courtyard entrance and the window jambs were restored by conservator Jiří Rataj. These interventions contributed significantly to the preservation of the building’s authentic historic details.
Photo gallery: https://www.rajce.idnes.cz/mipalfi/album/jachymov-dum-cp126
