Clam-Gallas Palace

The Clam-Gallas Palace in Prague's Old Town is one of the most important architectural gems of Baroque Prague. This monumental building, built on the site of medieval buildings, represents the peak period of Prague's aristocratic architecture of the 18th century. The palace was built at the beginning of the 18th century when Jan Václav Gallas commissioned the famous Viennese architect Johann Bernhard Fischer of Erlach to rebuild it. The result was a magnificent three-winged building around a central square courtyard, which was completed with the help of other architects and artists.

Fischer of Erlach designed not only the building itself, but also the sculptural decoration of the palace. The famous sculptor Matthias Bernard Braun, whose workshop worked on the sculptural elements of the exterior and interior, especially the main staircase, also contributed to the artistic decoration. The interiors were also decorated with exceptional paintings, including the decoration of the main staircase and the representative halls, which was carried out by the Italian painter Carlo Innocenz Carlone.

The history of the palace goes back a long way, with the first written mention dating back to 1351. Over the centuries it belonged to important bourgeois and noble families before becoming the property of Count Matthias Gallas in 1634, who acquired it after the confiscation following the murder of William of Kinski. Although the palace was not in good condition, it received only the most necessary repairs. At the beginning of the 18th century, Matyáš's grandson Jan Václav Gallas (1671-1719) bought several neighbouring houses and plots and had a three-winged Baroque palace built in their place.

During the 18th and 19th centuries, the palace served not only as a luxurious residence, but also as an important cultural and social centre. Christian Philip Clam-Gallas completed the interior decoration of the palace and built a private theatre, which became a venue for important concerts and social events.

The palace, with its rich history, unique architecture and artistic decoration, is today an important part of Prague's cultural heritage.