Michnův letohrádek, Baroque villa in New Town, Czech Republic
Michnův letohrádek is a single-story baroque villa with elaborate architectural details and a central staircase that leads to a fresco-decorated upper hall. The interior showcases ornate rooms characteristic of early 18th-century design.
Kilián Ignaz Dientzenhofer built the villa in 1717–1720 for Count Jan Václav Michna z Vacínova, as his first Prague work after returning from Vienna, where he had studied contemporary European architecture. Its design shows the influence of Lucas von Hildebrandt. In 1729 the villa was sold to Karl Josef Desfours, and in 1843 it passed to the city of Prague.
The building now serves as a museum dedicated to composer Antonín Dvořák, displaying musical instruments, manuscripts, and personal items from his life. Visitors can see how this celebrated artist lived and worked.
The villa is located in New Town and accessible to visitors exploring the district's architecture and history. It is advisable to check opening conditions in advance since the museum has specific times for entry.
The large first-floor hall is painted as a temple of the muses: Apollo floats on the winged horse Pegasus holding a burning torch, surrounded by small genii. Four allegories complete the ceiling — architecture, painting, music and geometry — shown through the Colosseum's builder, Apelles, Orpheus and the death of Archimedes.
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