Černín Palace, Baroque palace in Hradčany, Czech Republic
Černín Palace is a baroque government building in Hradčany with an exceptionally long facade that runs along Loretánské Square and consists of tightly spaced half-columns. The estate includes two courtyards and several wings, including a more modern addition from the 1930s located behind the older structure.
Construction began in 1669 under Italian architect Francesco Caratti and dragged on until 1677, with later generations making minor alterations. After World War I, the newly formed Czechoslovak government took over the building and had the additional wing built from 1933 onward.
The name comes from Count Humprecht Jan Černín, whose family lived on the estate until the 19th century before it passed to the army and later to foreign affairs. Today diplomats work in the former halls, while the facade with its 30 half-columns continues to define the neighborhood.
The building now houses the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and is not open to the public, but can be admired from outside on the square and surrounding streets. The long facade offers good photo opportunities from the opposite Loreto area.
The Janák extension still operates a paternoster elevator, an open cabin system that runs continuously in a loop and carries staff between floors. Visitors cannot see the device from outside, but it remains one of the few active installations of this type in Czech ministries.
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