burgher's house Burgher house

Welcome to Bardejov, a city that can stop time with its atmosphere and architecture. Right now, you are facing one of the many witnesses of ancient times who defines the character of this city. Before you take the rods of the townhouse, a building that carries layers of several centuries of history. When you look at it, you may perceive only one of many houses in a row, but in reality you perceive a living organism that has adapted to the needs of its inhabitants from top Gothic to modern times.

Let's now come crashing into the past together and find out when and how this house originated. If you look at its basic form, it will take you to about the year thousand five hundred. It was during this period, at the turn of the fifth and sixteenth centuries, that this house was created in Gothic construction style. At that time Bardejov was a thriving trading center, and burgher houses were a symbol of the status, wealth and stability of local families. Gothic at the time was not only a style of temples but also a sign of stability in civil architecture. This house was then built to serve generations, and it succeeded.

Nyni pay attention to how the building has changed over time. Architecture is not static and this house is a proveable example of this. As we move to the seventeenth century, namely the thousand and six hundred, a new era occurred in the city. The townspeople wanted not only functional houses, but they wanted representativeness. During this period, many burgher houses in Bardejov were rebuilt and transformed into city palaces. Although we do not know exactly who the architects of these changes were, their goal was to give the buildings greater luxury and decorate them to reflect the power and influence of their owners.

If you now notice the overall structure of the building, think about what happened later. In the 19th century, the city began to grow, and the need for housing changed. At that time, so-called rent and spider houses with central courtyard were created. This type of construction made it possible to use the space more efficiently and accommodate more people, which changed the internal dynamics of many Bardejov buildings. And if you now look at the bottom of the house, at its parter, you will see the result of the changes of the twentieth century. At that time there was modernization of ground floor space. Why? Because Bardejov remained a business node and building parties had to adapt to new business operations in order to make them more accessible to customers and more functional to dealers.

It is fascinating that although we do not know the specific names of the personalities who lived in this house or the names of the masters who built it, we feel their presence in every stone. This house is not only a dead monument but part of the city's living loom. Note that although the building has undergone many stages of rebuilding, it still retains its original identity as a regular building.

Let me now reveal one interesting thing that gives this place a special dimension. You may imagine that such historical buildings now serve only as museums or exhibition facilities. The truth is, however, that the function of housing in these objects remains to this day. This means that beyond these old walls, ordinary human life is still taking place, coffee is cooked and families live, just as it was hundreds of years ago, although in modern comfort. In addition, this object is officially registered by the Monument Office of the Slovak Republic under the number ÚZPF thousand six hundred ninety-six, which guarantees it protection for future generations.

Now that you are aware of the atmosphere of this place, realize that you are standing in front of a building that has survived thousands of stories, wars, economic booms, and declines. It is a column of history that teaches us how the city of Bardejov evolved from a Gothic city to a modern centre.

I'm slowly saying goodbye to this particular house, but your beautiful Bardejov journey continues. I invite you now to continue exploring the surrounding streets and to see how the Gothic elements are mixed with later influences. Watch the details, watch the rhythm of the row houses, and follow the history that is present in this city at every turn. Thank you for a walk in front of this townhouse and I wish you a pleasant further discovery in the heart of Prešov region.