Archbishop Palace, Baroque archbishop residence in Hradčany, Czech Republic
The Archbishop Palace stands next to Prague Castle and features marble balconies and ornate decorations across three floors with side wings. The facade shapes the appearance of the square with its geometric forms and classical elements.
The site was a group of medieval houses, merged by Florian Griespek of Griespach, who completed a Renaissance palace there in 1538 and sold it to Emperor Ferdinand I in 1562. The emperor gave it to Archbishop Antonín Brus, who had it rebuilt by Bonifaz Wohlmut and Ulrico Aostalli in 1562–1564. A chapel was added in 1599, and Jean Baptiste Mathey gave the palace its early Baroque form in 1669–1679.
The dining room displays portraits of twelve Prague archbishops, from Antonín Brus to Miloslav Vlk, including Khuenburg by Petr Brandl and Kolowrat by Antonín Machek. Two reception halls are hung with the eight-piece tapestry series Les nouvelles Indes, showing Indigenous and African American hunters in jungle scenes among exotic animals.
The palace serves as the residence of Prague archbishops and stands at Hradčanské náměstí 16. Visiting the interior requires advance arrangement through the church authorities.
The two reception halls on the second floor are hung with an eight-piece tapestry series called Les nouvelles Indes, showing Indigenous and African American hunters in jungle scenes among exotic animals. The dining room displays portraits of twelve Prague archbishops, from Antonín Brus to Miloslav Vlk.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 92,138 contributors worldwide.