Town hall in Polička

The Town Hall in Polička is a Baroque building standing on the main square of this Czech town in the Pardubice Region, combining the role of municipal seat, picture gallery, and one of the most recognizable architectural landmarks in the area. Its distinctive tower with an onion-shaped dome is visible from afar and has served for centuries as a landmark for anyone arriving in town.

Where does the current shape of the building come from?

Before today's Baroque structure existed, the square was home to a Gothic stone town hall built before 1360, complete with its own tower. At the time, Polička was one of the towns held as a royal dowager's estate and served as the center of a prosperous district, which eventually pushed the town council toward an ambitious rebuilding project befitting the town's growing importance. Permission for the new building was granted in 1731, and construction itself took place between 1739 and 1744. Although no archival documentation survives to confirm authorship with certainty, art historians attribute the design to František Maxmilián Kaňka, one of the leading architects of Czech Baroque at the time. Interestingly, the old Gothic tower was not demolished during the rebuilding — instead, the new, larger structure was built around it, meaning the medieval core survives to this day, hidden within the Baroque facade.

How has the building's appearance changed over time?

The town hall's history has not spared it serious damage. In 1845, a major fire struck the town, severely damaging both the town hall and its tower. Given the scale of the destruction and limited resources, the provisional roofing installed in 1846 remained in place until well into the 20th century, far longer than originally intended. It was not until 1916 that the tower's characteristic onion dome was rebuilt, restoring the shape it is recognized by today, and only in 1942 was the building's original mansard roof reconstructed, completing a long process of returning the structure to its pre-fire Baroque appearance.

What can visitors see inside?

The interior houses the town chapel dedicated to St. Francis Xavier, located in the northwestern part of the building. It retains original decoration from 1743, and the chapel itself was consecrated in 1751 — one of the few interior elements to survive largely unaltered since the building's construction. The town hall also houses a picture gallery, meaning the building today serves not only an administrative function but a cultural one as well, linking architectural history with the town's artistic life.

Why is the Polička town hall worth seeing?

The town hall is one of those rare buildings where several layers of history can be traced at once — from the Gothic tower predating the mid-14th century, through the Baroque rebuilding of the mid-18th century, to the aftermath of a major fire and the 20th-century restoration work that followed. For visitors exploring Polička's historic center, the building is a natural starting point, serving simultaneously as the seat of the town government and its architectural showpiece.

Frequently asked questions

When was the current town hall in Polička built? The Baroque building was constructed between 1739 and 1744, after permission was granted in 1731, on the site of an earlier Gothic town hall dating from before 1360.

Who designed the town hall? The design is attributed to František Maxmilián Kaňka, though no archival documents survive to confirm this with certainty.

What happened to the town hall during the 1845 fire? The fire severely damaged the building and its tower; provisional roofing remained in place until the 20th century, and the tower's onion dome was not rebuilt until 1916.

What can be found inside the town hall? The building contains the Chapel of St. Francis Xavier with decoration dating from 1743, as well as a picture gallery.