Clam-Gallas Palace

Clam-Gallas Palace stands on the corner of Husova Street and Mariánské náměstí, right in the heart of Prague's Old Town. A grand Baroque residence turned municipal archive turned event venue, the building has shifted roles several times over three centuries without ever leaving the hands of the city or the noble family whose name it still carries.

How did the Gallas family end up with a palace here?

The story starts in 1634, when Emperor Ferdinand II granted the property to General Count Matyáš Gallas as a reward for his military loyalty during the imperial wars. The land stayed in family hands for generations until the general's grandson, Count Jan Václav Gallas, an imperial diplomat, decided the existing house no longer suited his standing. In 1713 he bought up the neighboring houses on the plot to make room for a residence fit for a courtier of the Habsburg court.

Who actually designed and built it?

Jan Václav Gallas commissioned Johann Bernhard Fischer von Erlach, the Vienna court architect and one of the leading Baroque designers of the empire, to draw up the plans. Construction itself, carried out between 1714 and 1718, was overseen by the Italian architect Domenico Canevale. The result was a four-wing block arranged around a square inner courtyard, with a monumental facade facing Husova Street and a second entrance opening onto Malé náměstí at the rear.

What makes the building's decoration so distinctive?

The sculptural program on the facade, the two street portals, and the main staircase came from the workshop of Matthias Bernard Braun, the sculptor whose dramatic, deeply carved figures defined Prague Baroque sculpture at the time. His pieces frame the palace entrances and adorn the courtyard fountain, giving the whole building a theatrical, mythological presence. Between 1727 and 1729, the Italian painter Carlo Carlone added to that effect with a ceiling fresco over the main staircase depicting the triumph of the sun god Helios — one of the most ambitious painted decorations of its kind in the city.

Did the palace have a social life of its own?

Throughout the 18th century it did: balls and concerts held in its rooms drew some of the era's most celebrated musicians, with both Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Ludwig van Beethoven counted among the performers who appeared there. Classical concerts have since returned to the palace, reviving that 18th-century tradition of live music within its walls.

What is the palace used for today?

In 1945, the Gallas family's property was confiscated under the Beneš decrees. With the Old Town Hall's archive building destroyed by fire, the Prague City Archives needed a new home and moved into the Clam-Gallas Palace shortly after. The archives remained there until 2017, when they relocated to a purpose-built facility in the Chodov district. The palace itself is still owned by the City of Prague, which now uses it as a venue for cultural events, conferences, and concerts.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is the Clam-Gallas Palace located?

On the corner of Husova Street and Mariánské náměstí, in Prague's Old Town, along the route linking Old Town Square with the Lesser Town.

Who designed the building?

Johann Bernhard Fischer von Erlach created the design, while the Italian architect Domenico Canevale supervised construction between 1714 and 1718.

Whose sculptures decorate the facade and staircase?

The sculptural decoration was produced by the workshop of Matthias Bernard Braun, one of the defining sculptors of Prague Baroque.

Can visitors go inside today?

The palace is managed by the City of Prague and hosts cultural events, conferences, and concerts, so access to the interior depends on the current event schedule.

Is the city archive still housed there?

No — the Prague City Archives moved out in 2017 to a new building in the Chodov district.