The Liberec Town Hall displayed rarities reflecting its development

Liberec - The original town hall furniture, the Fire Bell from the towers, and other rarities from the Liberec town hall will be on display starting today at the exhibition "Yesterday and Today," organized in the Town Hall Cellar to mark the 115th anniversary of the unveiling of the keystone of the Neo-Renaissance town hall by the Liberec municipality. The exhibits are from the town hall's furnishings, the North Bohemian museum, and the archive, representing the development of both the old and new town halls. Many of them will be seen by people for the first time, and some will likely be seen for the last time, said the office secretary Marek Řeháček to ČTK today.
    "The bell from the back façade of the town hall has never been taken down in 115 years because there has been no access to it. It was only possible now with the help of a platform,” he explained. The bell dates back to 1692 from the workshop of Martin Zorbeh in Zittau. Its ringing used to announce a fire. Visitors to the exhibition can now sensitively ring it too. After the exhibition ends, it will return to its original place. With the proceeds from the entrance fees, the municipality wants to cast a replica of the Fire Bell, which would decorate the interior of the historic town hall.
    Among the exhibits, there is also chandelier decoration, historic plans with stamps and signatures of architect Franz von Neumann. From the old town hall, the exhibition includes a sandstone pillar, original Renaissance stained glass, or graphic sheets and paintings. Visitors to the exhibition can also view the original statue of the knight Roland up close.
    The statue adorned the building of the Liberec city office since 1891, and its model was the figure of Rathausmann from the Vienna City Hall. In 1952, communist officials had the knight removed from the tower, and for nearly 40 years, a five-pointed star stood over Liberec instead. The statue disappeared from the town hall on December 11, 1989, and was then replaced by the Czech lion. In 2005, Roland - the protector of the building and the city's residents - returned to the tower. The copper figure, with bronze, steel, and gold elements, stands 220 centimeters tall and weighs 138 kilograms, but it is only a replica of the original statue. The original knight, which is permanently stored in the Liberec museum, is in poor condition.
    The Liberec Neo-Renaissance town hall underwent a gradual reconstruction over the past five years. The interior needed to be returned to its original form, as there were many chipboard partitions and panel doors. The restoration cost tens of millions of crowns, during which, for example, the original interiors of the old election hall or the stained glass in the ceremonial hall were restored. Currently, the room behind the council hall is being repaired, which will be passable and will serve the public during council meetings. The work will be completed by the end of the year, added Řeháček. In the coming years, the city also plans to repair the town hall's roof.