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Palác Golz-Kinských (Golz-Kinský Palace) in the Old Town Square – description

On our walks in the Old Town Square (cze: Staroměstské náměstí) we will make a stop in front of another architectural gem. The Rococo Kinský Palace, often also marked as Palác Golz-Ki

nských

(eng: Golz-Kinský Palace), is an important structure looking more like a manor house in the centre of the Old Town.

All about: Golz-Kinský Palace more read here

History of the palace
Like the most houses in the Old Town Square (cze: Staroměstské náměstí)the building came into existence by joining three smaller buildings into one. The remains of these medieval Romanesque houses have been preserved until

today in the western part of the palace. The building which used to stand closer to the House at the Stone Bell was founded in 1363 and was built on a construction dating back to the 12th century. In the northern part of the palace the original 13th-century stone groundfloor has survived including an early Gothic cross vault.

Reconstruction of the palace
The houses were joined in one complex in 1508 under their owner Albrecht von Kolowrat. The later owners were the families of Trčka of Leipa and the dynasty of Příchovský of Hodějov. The building underwent an extensive Renaissance reconstruction in 1560. The former houses were rebuilt into the current palace between 1755 – 1765. The palace was rebuilt as a residence for the Count Jan Arnošt Goltz. The reconstruction was managed by the architect Anselmo Lugaro based on the drawings of Kilián Ignác Dientzenhofer. A line of statues decorating the house facade comes from the workshop of Ignác František Platzer. The palace futher received monumental front doorways with stone columns on their sides. Based on the Dienzenhofer´s project a balcony was built above the columns later.

After the death of the Count Goltz in 1768 the house was purchased by the Prince František Oldřich Kinský. Then several reconstructions of the palace followed and the entire interior was rebuilt in the Classicist style. The palace started to expand and in 1835 new plots were annexed – the neighbouring house and yard.

Crucial historical milestones
On June 9th, 1843 Bertha von Suttner was born in the palace. This lady was also the secretary of Alfred Nobel. In 1905, she was the first woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize. At the end of the 19th century the palace premises were used by a German Grammar School. That would not be that uncommon however it was attended by a noted writer Franz Kafka between 1893 – 1901.

However, the Kinský Palace is especially related to the event which took place here in 1948. O February 25th the president Klement Gottwald gave his speech from the palace balcony. In 1949 the palace became the residence of the graphic collection of the Prague National Gallery and in 1992 the place was proclaimed the national cultural monument. At present you can visit here a collection called The Landscape in the 19th century Czech Art.

Address:
Staroměstské náměstí 12/606
Praha 1 – Staré Město, 110 00

Contact:
National Gallery
Tel.: (+420) 224 810 758
http://www.ngprague.cz

Connection:
Tram: 17, 18, 53 Staroměstská (then follow the street Kaprova)
Bus: 133 Staroměstská (then follow the street Kaprova)
Metro: A – Staroměstská (then follow the street Kaprova)

GPS: 50° 5′ 17.29″N, 14° 25′ 18.29″E

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Monuments: Old Town Square

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