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Municipal House

Coordinates: 50°05′13″N 14°25′41″E / 50.087°N 14.428°E / 50.087; 14.428
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Municipal House
Obecní dům
Map
General information
Architectural styleArt Nouveau
AddressNáměstí Republiky 5
Town or cityPrague 1
CountryCzech Republic
Coordinates50°05′13″N 14°25′41″E / 50.087°N 14.428°E / 50.087; 14.428
Opened1912
Website
https://www.obecnidum.cz/index.php?language=en

Municipal House (Czech: Obecní dům) is a civic building that houses Smetana Hall, a celebrated concert venue, in Prague, Czech Republic. It is located on Náměstí Republiky next to the Powder Gate in the centre of the city.

History

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The Royal Court palace used to be located on the site of the Municipal House. This complex was built around 1380 by King Wenceslas IV, and from 1383 until 1485, the Kings of Bohemia lived in the property. After 1485, it was abandoned.[1] It was demolished in the early 20th century.

Construction of the current building started in 1905.[1] It was designed by Osvald Polívka and Antonín Balšánek.[1] It opened in 1912.[2]

The Municipal House was the location of the Czechoslovak declaration of independence in 1918.[1]

The roof of the building was the location for the INXS music video for their 1987 hit New Sensation.

Architecture and art

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The building is of the Art Nouveau architecture style.[3] The building exterior has allegorical art and stucco. There is a mosaic called Homage to Prague by Karel Špillar over the entrance.[1] On either side are allegorical sculpture groups representing The Degradation of the People and The Resurrection of the People by Ladislav Šaloun.[4] Smetana Hall serves as a concert hall and ballroom. It has a glass dome.[1] It houses artwork by Alfons Mucha,[1] Jan Preisler and Max Švabinský.[5]

Today

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Today, the building is used as concert hall, ballroom, civic building, and includes a café to the left of the lobby and a French restaurant on the right side. Beneath the ground there is also a wine bar and an American bar.[3] Many of the rooms in the building are closed to the public and open only for guided tours.[1]

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  • Main entry
    Main entry
  • The Foyer
    The Foyer
  • French restaurant
    French restaurant
  • The café
    The café
  • Hall in the basement
    Hall in the basement
  • The Smetana Hall
    The Smetana Hall
  • Exhibition hall
    Exhibition hall
  • Fresko in the Primator-hall
    Fresko in the Primator-hall
  • Smetana Hall ceiling
    Smetana Hall ceiling

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Turp, Craig (2012). DK Eyewitness Travel Guide: Prague. London: DK Travel. ISBN 978-0756683993.
  2. ^ Otevření Obecního domu Král. hl. města Prahy (in Czech), Věstník obecní Král. hl. města Prahy, 31 December 1912, p. 507.
  3. ^ a b "Municipal House (Obecní dům)". Prague.eu. n.d. Retrieved 28 July 2022.
  4. ^ "Czech National Symphony Orchestra". www.pragueopera-tickets.com. Retrieved 4 November 2024.
  5. ^ "In the footsteps of Alphonse Mucha: The Municipal House". Prague City Tourism. Retrieved 4 November 2024.

Sources

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  • Peter Cannon-Brookes Czech Sculpture, 1800–1938
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Municipal House (Prague).
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