Kinsky Palace (Czech name: Palac Kinskyc) is an exquisite historical palace in Prague, which has a rich history and is the exhibition hall of the National Gallery Prague (Narodní galerie Praha).
In addition to the Kinski Palace, the National Gallery of Prague has several other buildings located both in the city of Prague and beyond. All the objects of the National Gallery Prague are listed at the end of this article.
The Kinski Palace is located in the heart of Prague's old Town, on the famous Old Town Square (Staroměstske naměstí).
View of the Kinski Palace (left) in the ensemble of buildings of the Old Town Square
View of the Kinski Palace (right) in the ensemble of the Old Town Square
The palace was originally built between 1755 and 1765 for the family of Count Jan Arnosht Goltz, by connecting and completing three houses originally of early medieval foundations. The project of the palace was designed by the court architect Kilian Dinzenhofer, the construction was carried out under the direction of Anselmo Lurago.
By the time the palace was sold to Franz Ulrich Kinsky in 1768, the building had acquired its final appearance with a Rococo exterior and Classicist interiors. By the name of the owners - the Kinsky family, the palace acquired its name.
In the 1830s, the palace was expanded due to the addition of the northern (left-sided) building (with preserved Gothic basements), adapted in the neoclassical style. Thus, the palace became a palace complex consisting of the main building facing the Old Town Square, the left wing, the transverse wing, the building on Tynskaya Street and the side wings. The rear on Tyn Street dates back to 1838, as well as late neoclassical modifications of the facades. In the 1830s, two palace courtyards were also supplemented, where a fountain with a rectangular tank was preserved.
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Herman Kafka, the father of the writer Franz Kafka, kept his haberdashery store on the ground floor of the palace, and Franz Kafka himself attended the palace's secondary school from 1893 to 1901. During the interwar period, the palace housed the mission of the Republic of Poland (1922-1934). During the February 1948 events, Communist leader Clement Gottwald addressed the public from the balcony of the palace.
Since 1949, the former palace has been managed by the National Gallery Prague and is used as an art museum with exhibitions. In 1962, the palace building was included in the List of National Cultural Monuments of the Czech Republic.
Today, the former Kinski Palace is one of the decorations of the city of Prague. Its main facade faces the Old Town Square and is made in Rococo style with rich stucco and sculptural decor.
The facade has a long balcony at the level of the second floor and is divided by two projections topped with triangular pediments, between which are sculptures of allegories of the elements and ancient deities by the workshop of Ignaz Frantisek Platzer.
In the photo, the Kinski Palace and on the right the house "At the stone bell" (D?M U Kamenn eho zvonu) with a Gothic facade and a chapel
A bookstore is open in the palace, the information center of the National Gallery is functioning, there are offices, a cafe and a museum store.
A space for exhibitions is allocated in the front wing. The walls of the palace house the exposition of the National Gallery, where masterpieces from the Renaissance to conceptualism of the 21st century are exhibited.
Objects of the National Gallery Prague
In addition to the Kinsky Palace , the National Gallery Prague in Prague also includes:
- The Trade and Exhibition Palace (Veletržní palác) with permanent and temporary exhibitions. Address: Dukelských hrdinów 47, 170 00 Prague 7;
- The Sternberg Palace (Šternberský palác) with a garden and historical interiors, permanent and temporary exhibitions. Address: Hradčanské náměstí 15, Prague 1;
- Schwarzenberg Palace (Schwarzenberský palác) with interiors and temporary exhibitions. Address: Hradčanské náměstí 2, Prague 1;
- Salmovsky Palace or Salms Palace (Salmovský palác) with a series of thematic exhibitions dedicated to international Art Nouveau and contemporary art in the context of works by famous Czech artists. Address: Hradčanské náměstí 1, Prague 1;
- the Monastery of St. Anezhka of the Czech Republic (Klášter sv. Anežky České) with routes through the monastery and the monastery garden with a sculpture garden, as well as the permanent exhibition "Medieval Art in Bohemia and Central Europe 1200-1550".Address: U Milosrdných 17, Prague 1;
- Wallenstein Riding School (Valdštejnská jízdárna) with temporary exhibitions. Address: Valdštejnská 3, Prague 1.
Objects of the National Gallery Prague outside the city of Prague:
- Zdar nad Sazavou Castle (Zámek Žďár nad Sázavou), located in the Czech Republic at the address: Masarykovo náměstí, 733 24 Karviná-Fryštát;
- Fristat Castle with an adjacent park (Zámek Fryštát), located in the Czech Republic, at the address: Masarykovo náměstí, 733 24 Karviná-Fryštát;
- Czech and Slovak Pavilions in Venice (Czech and Slovak Pavilion in Venice). Address: Giardini di Castello, Venice, Italy, 30122.
Practical information
For up-to-date information about the objects of the National Gallery Prague, expositions and temporary exhibitions held, as well as opening hours, ticket prices, places and conditions for buying tickets and visiting exhibitions, we recommend checking on the official website: ngprague.cz/en .
Address of the Kinski Palace: Staroměstské nám. 1, 110 15 Staré Město, Czech Republic.
Coordinates of the Kinsky Palace: 50°05'17.0"N 14°25'18.0"E (50.088056, 14.421667).
All accommodation facilities in Prague (hotels, apartments, guest houses, etc.), including in the historical center of the city and more remotely from it, can be viewed and booked here
