Stone Bell House

House at the Stone Bell is a Gothic townhouse standing on Old Town Square in Prague, right next to the Kinský Palace on the corner with Týnská street. Despite a long Baroque makeover, the building kept its original medieval core hidden underneath — something that only came to light in the 20th century.

When was the House at the Stone Bell built?

The house dates back to the second half of the 13th century. One theory holds it was built for Elizabeth of Bohemia, wife of John of Luxembourg and mother of the future Emperor Charles IV — it's even possible Charles was born here. The name of the house itself doesn't show up in records until 1413, taken from a stone bell carving set into the corner of the building; a replica of that carving still marks the spot today.

Why was its Gothic architecture hidden for so long?

For several centuries, the house's original Gothic character wasn't visible at all — a Baroque facade, typical of the buildings lining Old Town Square, covered the front of the building. It was only once that later facade was stripped away that the Gothic structural and decorative elements underneath came to light, making it possible to reconstruct the medieval appearance of the front. The restoration brought the house back close to how it would have looked before the Baroque remodeling.

What's inside the building today?

Since 1988, the House at the Stone Bell has operated as an art gallery, run as one of the exhibition venues of the Prague City Gallery (Galerie hlavního města Prahy), showing modern and contemporary art. The building also holds a bookshop and a café tucked into its rear section, and it's occasionally used to host concerts and other cultural events.

Where exactly is the House at the Stone Bell?

The building occupies a prominent spot on Old Town Square, one of Prague's most important and most visited squares. It sits directly beside the Baroque Kinský Palace, with the Church of Our Lady before Týn and the Old Town Hall with its famous astronomical clock both close by. That location makes it an easy stop to fold into any walk through the historic center.

Why is it worth visiting?

The House at the Stone Bell is a rare surviving example of a Gothic burgher's house at the very heart of Prague, despite centuries of remodeling around it. Pairing medieval architecture with a working contemporary art gallery means visitors can take in Gothic vaulted rooms and current exhibitions in the same visit — a mix of history and active cultural life in one building.

Frequently asked questions

How old is the House at the Stone Bell? It was built in the second half of the 13th century, making it more than seven hundred years old, although its Gothic character was hidden behind a Baroque facade for much of that time.

Where does the name come from? It comes from a stone bell carving set into the corner of the building, first mentioned in written records in 1413.

What can visitors see inside today? The interior houses a contemporary art gallery run by the Prague City Gallery, along with a bookshop and a café.

Is the building connected to Charles IV? By one account, the house belonged to Elizabeth of Bohemia, Charles IV's mother, and he may well have been born there.

Where exactly does it stand? On Old Town Square in Prague, on the corner with Týnská street, right next to the Kinský Palace.