Wallenstein Palace, Baroque palace in Malá Strana, Prague, Czech Republic
Wallenstein Palace is a palace in Malá Strana that now serves as the Czech Senate building, covering several plots in the northern part of the neighborhood. The rectangular garden behind the building features neatly arranged beds, a pond with fountains, and a painted loggia that functions as a summer concert hall.
To clear the site Wallenstein razed 26 houses, six gardens and two brickworks, and the palace was built between 1623 and 1630, largely incorporating the older Trčka residence. He lived there only about a year before imperial officers murdered him at Cheb in 1634. His widow sold it to his nephew, and the family held it until 1945.
The grotto features Saturn devouring his children, a theme from Roman mythology that visitors can observe carved into the garden walls. Stalactites and cryptic faces made of different materials decorate the facade, while bronze figures represent Hercules and other mythological characters.
The garden entrance is located on Letenská Street and opens free of charge on most weekends, while the interior rooms of the Senate building can be visited only through guided tours. Visitors should watch for signs, as some areas remain closed during parliamentary sessions.
The bronze statues in the garden are actually copies of the original sculptures, which were stolen by Swedish troops in 1648 and taken to Drottningholm in Sweden. The riding stable in the northern wing is considered the first purely functional Baroque space in Bohemia, built entirely from bricks without decoration.
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