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Czech name: Palác Kinských
A pink-and-white Rococo manor in the middle of Old Town Square, Kinsky Palace — Palác Kinských in Czech — is one of Prague’s most famous buildings. Once the home of a noble count, the ornate structure is linked to a pair of prized Czech writers. Plus, it served as the backdrop for an infamous inflection point in the nation’s history. The official name of the Kinsky Palace Prague is the Goltz Kinsky Palace.
Kinsky Palace in Prague: A study in architectural ornamentation
Kinsky Palace is a stunning example of Rococo architecture in Prague. The pink-and-white manor is located in the heart of the Old Town Square, and it is one of the city’s most popular tourist destinations.
The palace was built in the mid-18th century for Count Jan Arnošt Golz, and it was designed by Kilian Ignaz Dientzenhofer, one of the leading architects of the Rococo period. The palace is characterized by its ornate stuccowork, its lavish interiors, and its beautiful gardens.
Kinsky Palace has a rich history. It was once the home of the Kinsky family, one of the most powerful families in the Austro-Hungarian Empire. The palace also played a role in the history of Czechoslovakia. In 1948, Klement Gottwald announced the beginning of the communist era from the palace’s balcony.
Today, Kinsky Palace is owned by the National Gallery of Prague, and it houses a collection of paintings, sculptures, and decorative arts. The palace is open to the public, and it is a popular destination for tourists and locals alike.
Location & How to Get To the Goltz Kinsky Palace
Kinský Palace is located at 1/3 Old Town Square — aka Staroměstské náměstí — in Prague’s Old Town district.
How do you get there via public transportation? By metro, take the A line to Staroměstská, or B line to Můstek. You can also hop on the 194 bus or take a tram 2 or 18 to Staroměstská or tram 17 to Právnická fakulta.
Once you’re in the area, the dazzling stucco palace — conspicuously painted pink and white — is impossible to miss.
Opening Hours & Entry into the Goltz Kinsky Palace Prague
The Goltz Kinsky Palace in Prague is now owned by the state and serves as an outpost for the National Gallery. The building’s hours change regularly, and schedules are posted a month at a time on its website.
Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun: 10:00- 18:00.
Wed: 10:00- 20:00
Ticket prices vary event to event.
10 day pass to all permanent exhibitions of the national gallery at Kinsky Palace
During holidays there is a free entry to all exhibitions and expositions of the Kinsky Palace national gallery.
The landmark is right on the square. So step right up! Touch its walls! Bring a picnic! Lounge against its pillars while chowing down and people watching.
What to Do & What to See at the Goltz Kinsky Palace
Since 1949, The Prague Kinsky Palace has been operated by the National Gallery. It is now known as the Kinsky Palace national gallery. There are hidden gems to see — like the Palace roof wreathed in statues by venerated Czech sculpture Ignaz Franz Platzer.
Inside, the permanent collection of Kinsky Palace national gallery consists of old-world paintings set in golden-bold frames and some modern marvels. Traveling exhibits often sweep through too.
Occult enthusiasts may want to watch themselves when around Kinsky Palace, though. Legend has it that the Palace builders made a Faustian bargain to get the job done, and now the site is haunted. History buffs should check out the balcony. It’s where Klement Gottwald announced the beginning of the communist era in 1948, which lasted 42 years.
History of the Palace Kinsky in Prague
In 1755, work got started on the grand house commissioned by Count Jan Arnošt Golz for his family. Designed by the Frank Lloyd Wright of 18th-century east-central Europe, Kilian Ignaz Dientzenhofer, the mansion was built where two hotels once stood.
The Palac Kinsky took ten years to build, and in 1765 the count’s family moved in. But a mere three years later, he dropped dead, and the aristocratic Kinsky family moved in. Notably, Baroness Bertha von Suttner (nee Countess Kinsky) — the first female Nobel Peace Prize recipient — was born in the house in 1843.
Though the House of Kinsky owned the Goltz Kinsky Palace in Prague through World War II, the family leased sections to merchants and organizations. Hermann Kafka operated a hat shop on the ground floor, and Franz — Herman’s son and now-celebrated author — went to secondary school in the palace between 1893 and 1901. During the Interwar period, even the Republic of Poland’s legation occupied a wing.
In 1945, the government took possession of the property and made it a museum, which it remains today.
The Goltz Kinsky Palace is a study in architectural ornamentation that should not be missed if you find yourself in Prague.
