Municipal House (Obecní dům) in Prague is the city's foremost Art Nouveau building, and one of the finest of its kind anywhere in Europe.
It is situated on Republic Square, next to the Powder Gate Tower, which marks the entrance to the Old Town. Municipal House is a beautiful building from all aspects. Its facade of intricate stonework, stained glass windows and magnificent frescos gleams with gold trimmings. Inside, Municipal House contains a concert hall, music salons, exhibition rooms, an elegant Czech restaurant, a large traditional beer hall restaurant, an American cocktail bar, and a traditional café. Smetana Hall is the main hall at Municipal House, and the grandest concert hall in Prague. It is an architectural masterpiece of carved white stone with gold decorations, illuminated by hundreds of light bulbs. Magnificent frescos by Karel Spillar adorn the ceiling and walls. Ticket holders for the concerts climb a wide marble staircase to reach the Smetana Hall, which only adds to your anticipation of the event. Municipal House is the seat of the renowned Czech National Symphony Orchestra, who regularly perform and organise classical concerts in the Smetana Hall. The concerts boast the largest orchestras and choirs to play the city. All concerts listed on Prague Experience at Municipal House are held in the Smetana Hall (not a minor salon) - View listings and book concert tickets.
On the ground floor of the building is the Municipal House Restaurant, which offers graceful 1920s style fine dining. Huge windows run along one side of the restaurant, looking out over Republic Square. On the lower ground floor is a premium traditional Czech restaurant, Municipal House Beer Hall, which serves the finest local fare in a lively atmosphere. Next to the Beer Hall is the swish Tretter's American Bar. First opened in 1912, this classic Art Nouveau bar is ideal for pre-concert drinks. Sink into a black leather armchair with your choice of drink from cocktails, spirits, beers, wines and sparkling wines. Back on the ground floor, the Municipal House Café (Kavárna Obecní dům) is a traditional café serving coffee, tea, hot chocolate and fresh pastries throughout the day. Exhibitions are another draw of Municipal House, and these are listed in Prague events.
Municipal House was constructed on the site of the former Royal Court Palace. It opened to great fanfare in 1912. On the 28th October 1918, the historic proclamation of the independent state of Czechoslovakia was announced from the balcony at Municipal House to a large crowd in the square below. -----------------------------------------------
To explore the sights in Prague, take a Prague tour. |