The History of Our House

Just a short distance from Cheb Castle and a few steps from King George of Poděbrady Square stands the Kantorský Dům, one of the city’s most significant historic buildings. For over three centuries, it has been a dominant feature of Church Square, its main facade looking directly onto the Church of St. Nicholas and St. Elizabeth. The house is a cultural monument and is located in the very heart of Cheb’s urban conservation area.

The history of the house dates back to the 16th century. In 1576, the city purchased the house, intended for the Cheb cantor – a teacher, organist, and choirmaster. This is where the name Kantorský Dům (Kantorhaus), still used today, originates. From the end of the 17th century, prominent Cheb cantors and church choirmasters lived here, including Georg Anton Stehling, Georg Christoph Wirschnitzer, Georg Friedrich Scheibner, Rudolf Schuster, and others. For over two centuries, the house was not only their home but also a place for musical rehearsals and education.

It acquired its present appearance during a major Baroque reconstruction between 1722 and 1724, which, according to historical sources, was probably led by the prominent Cheb builder Angelus Pfeffer, the author of many Baroque buildings in the city. Meanwhile, the oldest parts of the house have been preserved in two levels of stone cellars, which are even older than the Baroque structure itself.

Even in the 19th century, the house did not lose its significance. It continued to serve the choirmasters of Cheb and gradually adapted to new needs. In 1890, gas lighting was introduced, and in the 1930s, an electrical connection was successfully installed. The music room on the ground floor served for choir rehearsals until it was no longer sufficient for the ever-growing number of musicians.

After the Second World War, the house underwent reconstruction. In the 1950s, the apartments were renovated, new technical installations were added, and the house was adapted to the housing requirements of that era. In 1989, a small shop was opened in the historic cellar spaces.

Today, the Kantorský dům is reawakening to new life. A sensitive reconstruction connects almost three hundred years of history with the comfort of modern accommodation, building upon the legacy of a place that for centuries shaped the cultural life of historic Cheb. Every guest thus becomes part of the house’s story, one that has survived centuries and continues to tell the history of the city to this day.