The Mydlar House

The Mydlar House - south view, Author: Fotoateliér Rudolf Vařejka

The Mydlar house is undoubtedly the most remarkable dwelling in town. It is as unique viewed from a distance as when viewed from the street level, because of its observatory-like feature.

The house received its present appearance from a wealthy soap and candle maker, Matej Mydlar, who married Ludmila Krocin of Vysoke Myto sometime after 1550. Mydlar among others stood in opposition to the town administration, for which the royal administrator chastened him in 1568. But it is mere gossip that he consequently retired in bitterness to the seclusion of his observator.

On 11.1.1571 he bought the house and commenced to rebuild it, finishing in about 1576. He survived the conviction and execution of his daughter, Dorota Vanurka, and died in early 1590.

The Mydlar House - south view, Author: Fotoateliér Rudolf Vařejka

The Mydlar House - view from Bretislavova street

The three-story house (not counting the ground floor) has archways on the first two floors, each with five arches. The first floor balustrade is richly ornamented with figures symbolically representing (from the left), piety, justice, diligence, and power. A legible inscription states:

"God is love, he who dwells in love dwells in God, and God in him. A.D. 1576" and the builder's initials, MM.

The loggia is set upon traversing stone beams decorated with a belled jester's cap, a bull, a hart, and several roses initialed IHS (Iesus Hominum Salvator).

The back of the house has two open galleries and is conspicuous for its narrow cylindrical tower, which resembles a minaret (the observatory) and is attached to a hexagonal smaller tower.

Building was repaired 1952 and became well-known Museum of Puppets.