Municipal house

The Municipal House in Prague is the most important Art Nouveau building in the world. The most important Czech painters and sculptors of the early 20th century participated in its decoration: Mikoláš Aleš, Max Švabinský, František Ženíšek, Ladislav Šaloun, Karel Novák, Josef Mařatka, Josef Václav Myslbek, Alfons Mucha and Jan Preisler.

The Municipal House played and important part in the history of Czechoslovak statehood twice - on 28 October, 1918 the independence of the newly established state was declared there, and in November 1989 the first meeting of the former communist government with representatives of the Civic Forum, headed by Václav Havel, took place there.

The Municipal House stands on Republic Square, next to the Prašná brána opposite the house U Hybernů. It serves mainly for representation purposes and cultural events (concerts, exhibitions).

Take a two-minute video tour of the Municipal House right here.


Photo: Municipal house and Powder Tower

The Municipal House was built in 1905-1912 according to the plans of the architects Antonín Balšánek and Osvald Polívka. Those designed the Municipal House as a multifunctional building for representative, exhibition, concert and commercial use. There is a restaurant and a café on the ground floor and the city information center near the main entrance.


Photo: Smetana hall

Its interior includes several halls (Gregr Hall, the Sladkovsky Hall, the Mayor's Lounge). The largest Smetana Hall serves as a concert hall for approximately 1,200 people; the concerts of the Prague Symphony Orchestra and organ concerts as well as The Prague Spring Festival take place there.

Its interior includes several halls (Gregr Hall, the Sladkovsky Hall, the Mayor's Lounge). The largest Smetana Hall serves as a concert hall for approximately 1,200 people; the concerts of the Prague Symphony Orchestra and organ concerts as well as The Prague Spring Festival take place there.


Photo: Sladkovsky hall