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The Wallenstein Palace – the residence of the Senate of the Czech Republic

During our walks through the Lesser Town we can´t miss one of the most precious gems which is to be found here. The Wallenstein Palace (Valdštejnský palác) is full of many beautiful architectural elements in its both interior and exterior parts. It is one of the most expressive buildings of the early Bohemian Baroque period.

The Wallenstein Palace

And what actually makes the palace so famous? Currently the palace is the residence of the Senate of the Parliament of the Czech Republic. Let´s take a look into the whole complex which is – beside the palace – formed also by the  Wallenstein Riding Hall (Valdštejnská jízdárna) and the  Wallenstein Garden (Valdštejnská zahrada) with its many pools, statues and natural attractions.

Historical hindsight:
The splendid palace complex was gradually growing in the period 1623–1630. The construction of this beautiful gem was the credit of one of the most mighty and richest aristocrats of his time Albrecht Wenzel Eusebius von Wallenstein (Valdštejn). Originally, the Trčka Palace used to stand here, further also twenty-three houses, three extensive gardens and the old brickworks. The significant architects, painters, sculptors and craftsmen were concerned in the construction of this spectacular piece of work.

We need to mention the following names: Andrea Spezza of Arongo, Giovanni Battista Pieroni or Niccolo Sebregondi. The artistic decoration of the gardens was the work of the sculptor Rudolf II. Adrian de Vriesa. You only have the chance to see the true replicas of his groups of statues or fountains during your walk through the gardens because the originals were stolen by the Sweedish troops in 1648.

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Look inside The Wallenstein Palace (Valdštejnského paláce)
All visitors are during the seightseeing of the palace surprised at its extend with its three hundred and forty meters in length and one hundred and seventy-two meters in width. For better orientation we will describe the actual buildings of the palace. We will start with the main residential building, we will further move to the Trčka wing, i.e. the wing with the riding halls, the so-called Czernin Palace, a one-storey building with a courtyard which used to be the residence of the pageboys originally. You will see another wing if you look towards the Riding Hall. However, that is not everything yet. If we focus on the garden we will certainly not miss the south wall with the caves, stalactites and the aviar where you can see the stock owls. As you walk through the interiors you can notice the decoration of the important spaces performed by the noted painter Baccio di Bianco.

Now we will enter the palace interior. We will visit the Main Hall and other premises. If you walk through the interior spaces you have the chance to see the portraits of Albrecht von Wallenstein in form of the wall paintings. In the Main Hall we will find him as Mars on the chariot, we can see his horse-riding image

in the Knights´ Hall and again as St. Wenceslas in the chapel. This chapel is one of the most significant places of the whole palace. On the walls there are scenes from the lives of St. Wenceslas and other saints.

Beside the many representative premises the palace includes alse a line of residential rooms alias Wallenstein´s representative rooms, which are located not far from the Main Hall. In the first of them – the Knights´ Hall – we will also find the horse-riding portrait of Albrecht Valdštejn. Further the Antechamber, the Audience Hall and the Mythological Corridor are to be found here. From the Mythological Corridor we can walk as far as the east part of the Palace. There used to be a stable which a capacity for ca. forty horses. Each horse had his own portrait above him. A huge riding hall is to be found on the east side.

And how does it look here these days?
The Valdštejn Palace is the part of the national-cultural landmark of the Parliament Residence  of the Czech Republic. The place where horses used to be tied up is nowadays the Council Hall of the Senate.

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The Senate Gardens:
Beautiful Senate Gardens are joined to the Palace. The gardens were founded already during Albrecht Valdštejn´s life and they were modified several times in the following centuries.  Today the visitors can see the arcade open loggia for the rest and entertainment called the Sala Terrena, the dripstone wall (stalactite wall) displaying grotesque face images, replicas of the statues by the sculptor Adrien de Vries and finally the pond with a little island and the group of the statues of Hercules fighting the Dragon. The extension and size of the palace premises and gardens will surprise many a visitor.

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Photo Gallery:

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Contact:

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Address:
Valdštejnské náměstí 17/4
118 01  Praha 1

GPS: Loc: 50°5′24.108″N, 14°24′19.267″E

Connection:
Underground(Metro): line A – Malostranská station
Tram: 12, 20, 22, 51, 56, 57 – Malostranská

Information:
The Wallenstein Palace is open to the public free in the weekends betw. 10 am to 4 pm. The entrance is possible from the 1st Courtyard of the Valdštejn Palace from the Valdštejnské náměstí.

The Wallenstein Garden
Free entry April – October betw. 10 am to 6 pm, the are festively illuminated during the Public Holiday  and open until 10 pm. There are concerts, theatre performances and other cultural events for the public in the Sala Terrena in the Summer time.

Transport connection: 
Search for connections: click here
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Information on Prague public transport: click here

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Map:

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DOWNLOAD: Tourist Guide in the Area

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  Tourist guide PRAGUE CITY LINE - Prague 1 (7,0 MiB, 19 017 hits)

Prague 1 still belongs to one of the most attractive parts of the whole Prague. Probably nowhere else you can find such a concentration of historic monuments and places where the history and romance of bygone times are all around you. Hardly anywhere you can walk on the same paths where were walking Franz Kafka, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, and the Golem of Prague.

 

Other interesting links – Read also

All about: Prague 1 Monuments more read here
All about: Prague 2 Monuments more read here
All about: Prague 3 Monuments more read here
All about: Prague Castle more read here
All about: Royal route and the coronation of King more read here
All about: Petrin Hill more read here
All about: Old Town Square more read here
All about: Jewish Prague more read here
All about: Prague Gardens and Parks more read here

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Categories: Prague Monuments | Komentáře nejsou povolené u textu s názvem The Wallenstein Palace – the residence of the Senate of the Czech Republic
Monuments: Wallenstein Palace

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