Harrachovský palác

Harrach Palace stands on Jindřišská street in Prague's New Town, just a short walk from Wenceslas Square. This Baroque building, also known as the Goldberg House or the House at the Green Meadow, is protected as a cultural monument of the Czech Republic.

Where does the palace's name come from?

The name comes from Count František Arnošt Harrach, who bought the building in 1856 along with a strip of adjoining garden. Before him, the property changed hands many times among Prague's burgher and noble families, each associated with the site under a different name.

What stood here before the palace?

Older buildings once occupied the site, the oldest dating back to the Gothic period — a fact confirmed by surviving cellar spaces beneath the palace. At the start of the 16th century, several separate plots were merged into a single property, only to be divided again later. Ownership changed hands frequently, especially during the turmoil of the Thirty Years' War.

How was the building used in the 18th century?

During the 18th century, the property belonged to Count Václav Ignác Deym of Střítež (1669–1747), who ran it as a working estate rather than a grand residence, using it mainly as a granary and for other agricultural purposes. In 1757, during the Prussian siege of Prague, artillery fire damaged the building.

What happened to the palace in the 20th century?

Count Harrach's heirs sold the building to the Czechoslovak state in 1921, which later passed it on to the Obuv Praha shoe company. In 1991, ownership shifted to the Baťa company, and from 2015 onward Baťa's real estate arm carried out a major reconstruction and expansion, designed by the AV 19 architectural studio, joining the historic palace to new construction inside the block.

What can visitors find there today?

After reconstruction, the palace now combines office, retail, and residential space. Two upper floors hold offices at a prestigious city-centre address, ground-floor units house shops — including a Baťa footwear store — and the building also contains apartments. It's also home to an interactive Museum of Senses, drawing visitors who are already exploring nearby Wenceslas Square.

Why stop here on a walk through Prague?

The palace sits right in the heart of the New Town, on the way between Wenceslas Square and other central landmarks, so it's easy to fold into a walking route without a detour. Its Baroque facade, set against the more modern buildings around it, is a small snapshot of how historic Prague keeps living inside a working office and retail district.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is Harrach Palace located? On Jindřišská street at number 20, in Prague's New Town, close to Wenceslas Square.

Is the palace a protected monument? Yes, it's listed as a cultural monument of the Czech Republic.

Can visitors go inside? The building now serves office, retail, and residential functions. Ground-floor shops, including the Museum of Senses, are open to the public, but the office floors and apartments are not accessible to visitors.

Where does the name come from? From Count František Arnošt Harrach, who purchased the building in 1856.