MUNICIPAL HOUSE

Description

Essentials about the Municipal House in brief

The Obecní dům (i.e. “Municipal or Representative House”) is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful historical buildings in Prague and definitely worth a visit, not only for art and architecture fans. The concerts of the Prague Symphony Orchestra also take place here. And in the two restaurants, the café and the bar of the Municipal House you can have an excellent meal and a drink in a dreamlike Art Nouveau atmosphere.

The architecture of the Municipal House

The building was erected in the years 1906 to 1912 on the site of the former Royal Court, which was demolished in 1904. The Royal Court had been built as a residence by Wenceslas IV around the year 1380. The only part of the Royal Court that remains today is the passage between the Municipal House and the Powder Tower across Celetná Street. The competition organized after the demolition of the Royal Court was won by two Czech architects Antonín Balšánek and Osvald Polívka. Their design at the transition between historicism and art nouveau convinced the jury.

The two wings of the main front stand at an obtuse angle to each other. In the center is the portal and above it the balcony, adorned by a large semicircular arch with a quotation from Svatopluk Čech to the glory of the city of Prague. In the arch is the mosaic Apotheosa Prahy by Karel Špillar. Above it is the dome flanked by two groups of statues by Ladislav Šaloun symbolizing the humiliation and resurrection of the Czech nation.

The interior of the Municipal House

Even more interesting than the facade, however, is the rich interior decoration of the representative building, in which many well-known artists of the turn of the century, such as Mikoláš Aleš, Max Švabinský, Josef Václav Myslbek and Alfons Mucha, were involved. The pure engineering achievements of the Municipal House were also quite unique for the time in Europe. For example, there were 28 elevators with electric or hydraulic drives, a state-of-the-art telephone exchange, a pneumatic tube system, a remote-controlled ventilation system, and special rooms for refrigerating food and making ice.

As for the artistic and craftsmanship features, one could easily write a separate guidebook about the Municipal House. The interior of the house offers such a variety of paintings, sculptures, reliefs, ceramics and other artistic details that visitors can spend many days inside without seeing everything.

The Municipal House as a cultural center

The Municipal House was designed as a center of Czech cultural life from the very beginning. It experienced its first cultural heyday in the 1920s and 1930s. Balls, parties, art exhibitions and conferences alternated. The capital’s elite met for dinner and discourse in the building’s cafés, restaurants and bars. Even today, the Municipal House is a top-class address for concerts, exhibitions and events of all kinds, for example as part of the Prague Spring Festival. It is also home to the Prague Symphony Orchestra.

The Municipal House as a political center

The building gained worldwide fame on October 28, 1918, when the foundation of the Czechoslovak Republic was proclaimed here. In November 1989, the Municipal House was also the scene of great politics, as the first meeting between the communist government and the representatives of the Civic Forum led by Václav Havel took place here in the course of the Velvet Revolution.

Concerts, restaurants and bars in the Municipal House

Nowadays there are two good reasons to pay a visit to the Municipal House. First, to attend a concert of the Prague Symphony Orchestra. And secondly, to have a meal or a drink in the beautiful atmosphere of the house.

Smetana Hall

Concertgoers will head for the Smetana Hall in the Municipal House, where the Prague Symphony Orchestra mainly performs. Named after probably the most famous Czech composer, Bedrich Smetana, the hall seats around 1,200 visitors and, with its almost 900 square meters, is the central room in the entire building. In addition to the figural ceiling painting, it is characterized above all by numerous stucco decorations, mirrors, leaded glass windows and textiles from the Art Nouveau period.

Francouzska Restaurace

If you’re hungry for French cuisine before or after a concert (or at any other time), you should head to Francouzska Restaurace. The restaurant, designed in Prague’s Art Nouveau style, impresses with its ambience, its food and drink offerings, and its live jazz and piano music. Since the reputation of Francouzska Restaurace goes far beyond the city limits of Prague, you should definitely reserve a table.

Plzenská Restaurace

Those who prefer Czech to French cuisine should look for a table at the Plzenská Restaurace in the basement of the Municipal House. It is a Czech restaurant par excellence, offering traditional Czech specialties and Pilsner-style beers in the very finest Art Nouveau atmosphere. To complete the atmosphere, Czech music is also played (sometimes live).

Kavárna Obecní dům

Those who have brought only a small hunger to the Municipal House can satisfy it in the beautiful Art Nouveau coffee house Kavárna Obecní dům. On the first floor of the Municipal House, you can enjoy delicious Czech desserts, small snacks and, of course, lots of coffee specialties in the coffee house.

The American Bar

And if you prefer to go for just a drink, you should go to the American Bar – it is, after all, the oldest bar in Prague. In a very pleasant Art Nouveau atmosphere, the American Bar offers a first-class selection of cocktails, spirits and sparkling wines.