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 stunning frescos gleams with gold trimmings. Inside Municipal House is a huge concert hall, music salons, exhibition rooms, an elegant Czech restaurant, a large traditional beer hall restaurant, an American cocktail bar, and a traditional café. The 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. From the foyer, a wide marble staircase leads concert ticket holders up to Smetana Hall, which only adds to one's anticipation of the event. Municipal House is the seat of the Prague Symphony Orchestra and the Czech National Symphony Orchestra. They both regularly perform and organise classical concerts here, which 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.
Municipal House Restaurant is on the ground floor of the building, and offers graceful 1920s style fine dining. Huge windows run along one side of the restaurant, looking out over Republic Square. On the floor below 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, which opened in 1912. Visitors will find the classic Art Nouveau bar ideal for a sophisticated pre-concert drink. Either sit at the bar or sink into a black leather armchair with your favourite drink in hand. Back on the ground floor, the Municipal House Café (Kavárna Obecní dům) is a traditional café. It serves coffee, tea, hot chocolate and fresh pastries throughout the day. Exhibitions are another draw of Municipal House. 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. -----------------------------------------------
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