Municipal House: A Fine Example of Art Nouveau in Prague
When exploring the center of Prague, you cannot miss one of the most notable buildings in the historical part, Municipal House alias Obecní dům, which is an example of the Art Nouveau architectural style. Visit with us Municipal House through our photos, take a tour when in Prague, come for a concert or have dinner in this exceptional place.
Sometimes we are thinking about how we take many things for granted. We walk around Prague, around its beautiful buildings, and it often does not even come to our minds what is behind that eye-catching facade, or amazingly decorated exterior.
We know many historical buildings in the heart of Prague were turned into concert halls or representative halls for organizing venues and meetings, but usually, we do not have the motivation or even the information we can go inside to see the inquisitive interior.
That's why we were super excited when we discovered last week, that Municipal House, one of the most notable buildings in the city center near Old Town Square opened its gates for visitors.
Well, technically, Municipal House is open all year round to visitors (so you can easily get in there during your stay in the capital of the Czech Republic), but this time it was different.
We went to Municipal House on October 28, which is a national holiday the Czech Republic, on occasion to celebrate Day of the Independent Czechoslovak State.
On that day, entrances to some notable buildings and museums are free of charge.
We agreed this is a perfect time to go there, have a look, and save some money. Although you will most likely visit Prague on a normal day when it is necessary to pay for the entrance to Municipal House, we can tell you now, your money is totally worth it to see the interior.
Also, don’t forget to check out our blog post on free things to do in Prague.
We took a tour through differently decorated ceremonial halls and wonderful parlors, and could not believe we did not pay a visit to Municipal House much earlier.
Here is our travel guide to inspire you to visit Municipal House, hopefully, you will enjoy our photos to appreciate the beauty of Art Nouveau architectural style, and maybe, one day, you will visit Obecni Dum (that's how we call the house in the Czech language) by yourself.
HISTORY OF MUNICIPAL HOUSE
Municipal House has quite a long history. On the same spot in the 14th century stood a residential house for Czech kings, and today, we can say that the famous Royal Route starts here, right next to the Powder Gate (Prasna Brana).
Despite the famous and important history, the building complex was demolished at the beginning of the 20th century, and a new building which was supposed to be a crown jewel of Prague, a place where important people will meet, and a place where important things will happen, was built and solemnly opened in 1912.
The Municipal House was (and still is) a true gem built in Art Nouveau style, and it is a place where many unique concerts, exhibits, fashion shows or other cultural events take place. Municipal House is also an important building for Czech history, as in 1918 an independence of Czechoslovak Republic was announced here.
Since its opening in 1912, the building has gone through several reconstructions, but it only added up to its exceptionality. Either way, Municipal House is a building you simply must put on your list of things to see in Prague.
WHAT TO SEE IN MUNICIPAL HOUSE
As you could read, Municipal House is not that old in comparison with other touristy places in Prague such as Charles Bridge or Prague Castle, but we can guarantee you that the interior is not any less interesting.
Municipal House is well-known for hosting several famous classical music concerts, one of the most famous ones is the Prague Spring festival (we are hoping to visit this spring).
Therefore, one of the most impressive things to see inside the building is Smetana Hall (named after a Czech famous composer Bedrich Smetana) which has a capacity of 1200 people. You will find here several sculptures, paintings, and the ceiling is also worth noticing.
Smetana Hall is the largest venue in the building, but even though the other halls and parlors are much smaller, it does not mean they are less interesting.
Every single hall in Municipal House is decorated in a different style and paintings often show either notable persons from the Czech history or scenes reflecting the atmosphere and the main themes resonating in the society at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries.
Walk slowly through halls such as Sladkovsky Hall, Mayor's Hall, Oriental Salon, Moravian Slovak Salon or Palacky Hall, and soak in every single detail such as paintings on the ceilings, stucco on walls, amazing chandeliers or mirrors.
HOW TO GET TO MUNICIPAL HOUSE
Municipal House stands in its glory right in the heart of the city, close to the Old Town Square, Wenceslas Square, and right on Republic Square, next to Powder Gate.
Therefore, we are absolutely sure you will walk around the Municipal House several times during your time in the city, so no worries you will miss it out.
In case you are following our 1-Day Prague Itinerary or 3-day Prague itinerary, you can see it is easy to visit Municipal House and combine this sight with other must-visit attractions in the city center.
To get to Municipal House, you have several options. If you've read our post on How to Get Around Prague by Public Transport, by now you probably know that using metro, tram or bus service in the city could not be easier.
Therefore, to get to Municipal House, take metro line B (yellow), and get off on Republic Square (Namesti Republiky). This is the fastest way to get to the square, although you can for sure take either a tram (several lines stop here) or even a bus.
In case you are staying in the city center, chances are high that you will have Municipal House within walking distance, and there will be no need to use public transport at all.
Travel Insurance
We never leave home without travel insurance that was designed to cover our expenses if something goes wrong during the trip.
Travel insurance protects against theft, flight delays, injury, illness, cancellations, and much more.
World Nomads provides travel insurance for travelers to cover their trip essentials, including sports and adventure activities.
SafetyWing is affordable travel insurance for backpackers, long-term travelers, and digital nomads.
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WHERE TO STAY
Good news, as we've already mentioned, Municipal House is right in the center of Prague, and it is close to all major sights you must visit when in Prague.
That's why it is easy to find accommodation near Republic Square, what is a bit harder, is to find a hotel or hostel for a reasonable price, especially if you are traveling on a budget.
We've handpicked three best hotels for every type of traveler with a convenient location not only for visiting Municipal House, but overall for exploring Prague.
Budget | Ibis Praha Old Town - It is not an easy task to find cheap accommodation in the center of the city. This hotel is clean, it has a good address and sometimes, you can find here a good deal, so when it happens, do not hesitate, and make your reservation.
Mid-range | K+K Hotel Central - Great location, reasonable prices, and timeless design, this hotel is a perfect choice for everyone looking for comfort, but at the same time for those who do not want to break the bank.
Luxury | Hotel Kings Court - One of the best hotels in Prague is located only steps away from Republic Square. Enjoy true luxury in the heart of Prague.
WAYS TO VISIT MUNICIPAL HOUSE
Although it is possible to admire Municipal House only from outside, in case you have time, we definitely recommend you to find out how the building looks inside, because the interior is simply stunning.
The Municipal House entrance fee basically depends on the way you want to visit the building.
CONCERTS
Municipal House hosts concerts, you can find here a traditional Czech restaurant but for us, the absolute highlight was visiting individual halls and parlors, because they are beautiful and each is decorated in a different style.
EXHIBITIONS
Except for walking around the halls, you can also buy a ticket for exhibitions which take place in Municipal Hall. There are different exhibitions in time, and one permanent exhibition showing the work of famous Czech designer Blanka Matragi.
As we’ve mentioned at the beginning of our blog post, you can visit Municipal House all year round.
Therefore, it’s a perfect place to visit on a bad weather day or to warm up your body, if you’ve arrived in Prague in winter.
To reserve a tour and buy tickets in advance, you can visit the official website.
RESTAURANT
Honestly, for us, Czechs, eating in Municipal House does not seem very appealing.
We've read several comments saying this is the traditional restaurant for tourists, where waiters anticipate large tips, otherwise they are rude and non-professional.
However, the food will most likely be just fine here, and the main reason to visit is the beautiful decor.
TOURS
In case you are interested in Cubism and Art Nouveau style, you can take a Art Nouveau And Cubist Architecture Walking Prague Tour around Prague's best examples. The tour includes also Municipal House, but you won't get in.
Travel Resources
Here you can find links to all the travel resources we use and which you might find helpful when planning your next holiday.
Accommodation: When looking for accommodation, we usually search hotels via Booking.com or Hostelworld.
Tours: Although we love to travel independently, some places are better to visit with a guided tour.
We prefer GetYourGuide for its easy-to-use interface and solid reputation. Another great alternative is Viator.
Rental Cars: When going on a road trip, we always use Rentalcars.com, a reliable site for booking a rental car in advance.
Get Around: Buses and trains are an affordable way to get around the Czech Republic. Regiojet offers clean and modern buses and trains with all the amenities.
Flight Tickets: When looking for flight tickets, you can search Skyscanner to find the best price.
Travel Insurance: World Nomads and SafetyWing cover against risks of travel.
