Town hall of Hradčany, Renaissance town hall in Hradčany, Prague, Czech Republic

The Town Hall of Hradčany is a Renaissance building on Loretánská Street, with a side on Radnické schody. Its facade bears the coat of arms of Hradčany, the imperial emblem and the symbol of Justice. Built around 1600, it has served as a residential house since the first half of the 18th century.

Hradčany was declared an independent town by Emperor Rudolf II in 1598, creating the need for its own town hall, built around 1600. In the first half of the 18th century it was converted into a residential house, which it remains. Its importance as a town hall ended in 1784 when Prague's four historical towns merged under a single magistrate.

The facade bears the coat of arms of Hradčany, the imperial emblem and the symbol of Justice, marking its brief role as a town hall. Since the first half of the 18th century the building has been a private dwelling, so visitors see it from Loretánská street and the Radnické schody steps.

The former town hall stands on Loretánská Street, with a side address on the Radnické schody steps below the Prague Castle complex. It has been a residential house since the first half of the 18th century, so the interior is not open to visitors; the facade with the Hradčany, imperial and Justice emblems is seen from the street.

The facade carries three coats of arms: the town of Hradčany, the imperial emblem and the symbol of Justice. Look for them above the entrance; they recall the 1598 decree of Rudolf II that made Hradčany a separate town with its own council.