Town hall in Žilina

The Town Hall in Žilina, known locally as Mestská radnica, stands as a proud testament to the rich history and cultural heritage of this charming Slovak city. Nestled in the heart of Žilina, this historic building has witnessed centuries of change and development, serving as a central hub for municipal governance and community activities.

The History of the Town Hall in Žilina

The Town Hall in Žilina boasts a history that dates back to the early 16th century. The first mention of the Town Hall appears in the Žilina Book in 1508, referred to as radhuus or radhaws, derived from the German word Rathaus. It is believed that an older town hall once stood in the middle of the square, but archaeological research conducted between 1966 and 1995 found only traces of it. Following the destruction of this earlier structure, the townspeople of Žilina purchased a house that eventually became the site of the present Town Hall.

The acquisition of this house was not without its challenges. Ownership disputes raged from 1471 to 1509 between the town, the Strečno estate, and the hereditary reeves. It wasn't until 1509 that George Kereky, the owner of Strečno, returned the stone house to the town, and it has served the city's needs ever since. The townspeople of Žilina paid nearly 3,000 gold coins to buy out the hereditary reeveship and the Town Hall, making them the only community in Slovakia to purchase their own reeveship and town hall from their resources.

Seat of Municipal Authorities

From its inception, the Town Hall has been the center of municipal governance, housing the city council, assembly, court, notary, administration, and economic activities. Elected reeves from the ranks of Žilina's townspeople resided in the building alongside hereditary reeves. These reeves were elected for one-year terms, with elections traditionally held on April 24th, the feast of St. George. In 1771, the election date was moved to November 1st.

The first known elected reeve of Žilina was Jokl Smyt, who served from 1419 to 1420, while the first known hereditary reeve was Ján Pezold in 1325. Over the centuries, the town has seen 11 hereditary reeves and 188 elected representatives, some of whom were re-elected multiple times. Among these leaders were notable figures like the Straňavský, Košeľovci, and Skalovci families, and even a baron, Karol Kloch, who served in 1900 and passed away in office.

In the 20th century, the city built the so-called Financial Palace (now Dexia Bank) in 1931, and the municipal office and the city's highest representative moved to these new premises. Consequently, the Town Hall was dubbed the Old Town Hall. The municipal office later relocated several times, and since 1995, it has been housed in the former OV KSS building at Námestie obetí komunizmu 1. However, the mayor's office returned to the Old Town Hall at the end of 1992, precisely 60 years later.

The Town Hall's Interior and Architectural Evolution

Until its reconstruction in 1893-1894 under reeves Ignác Balogh and Jozef Hrabovec, the Town Hall featured various spaces, including two Gothic vaulted cellars that still exist today. The ground floor housed a room for the night watch, a storage room, a kitchen, and a large room for a tavern dating back to 1528. The upper floor had a large hall for city offices, a room for guards, a prison, and archive rooms. A single-story house for guards was located behind the main building.

The main room on the upper floor, where the city council, magistrate, and court met, was richly decorated with various images and inscriptions. The ceiling featured wooden panels with a painting of the city's coat of arms—a double golden cross in a green field—surrounded by inscriptions. One notable inscription, dating back to 1685, reads: Uvidel a zaplakal - opraviť dal 1685. Richtár, celé mesto a senát, which translates to Saw and wept - repaired in 1685. Reeve, the whole town, and the senate.

Another inscription from 1797 recounts: Čoskoro dozrel však čas siedmej žatvy hrôz. Keď vzbĺkli v plameňoch veže, radnica, kostoly a dom. Radnice, slziac, siedme už ruiny zrel. Tak sa stalo, že nemohol svoje práva vykonávať, which means Soon the time of the seventh harvest of horrors came. When the towers, town hall, churches, and houses burned in flames. The town hall, weeping, saw the seventh ruins. Thus it happened that it could not exercise its rights.

These inscriptions, along with other Latin texts on the walls, emphasized the principles of justice and the responsibilities of the city's officials. The Town Hall's rich history and architectural evolution reflect the resilience and determination of the people of Žilina, making it a must-visit landmark for anyone exploring this beautiful Slovak city.