Kolowratský palác

Kolowratský palác stands on the corner of Thunovská and Sněmovní streets in Prague's Malá Strana district, just steps from the Chamber of Deputies building — an institution its history is still tied to today.

How old is the building?

A house has stood on this spot since the medieval period, originally as a Gothic residence. According to the Chronicle of Royal Prague (compiled by Václav Vladivoj Tomek from older records, also known as Ruth's chronicle), its first recorded owner in 1466 was a carpenter named Jan Sekyra. At that time the house carried the name "Bělehrad" (Belgrade) — a common practice in Prague, where houses were identified by names rather than numbers.

Where does the name "Kolowratský" come from?

In the early 17th century the property passed into the hands of the Kolowrat family, from whom it takes its present name. After 1626 the building began serving as the rectory for the parish of St. Wenceslas, whose small rotunda church stood in the northwest corner of the adjoining Jesuit professed house at the time. When the Jesuit order was dissolved in 1772 and the church itself eventually disappeared, the parish was rededicated to St. Nicholas — and the building became known as the rectory "u sv. Mikuláše."

When did it take on its current look?

The Baroque appearance visible today dates largely from around 1690, during one of the building's several remodelings. In 1707 architect Giovanni Antonio Lurago carried out further alterations, refining the corner facade where Thunovská meets Sněmovní.

Who owns it, and what is it used for now?

The palace belongs to the Prague Archbishopric. It has been protected as a cultural monument since 1964. Today the building is occupied by the Chamber of Deputies of the Czech Parliament, which houses its Parliamentary Institute — the body responsible for research and documentation support for members of parliament — inside it.

Can visitors go inside?

The building serves an institutional function (home to a parliamentary research body) rather than operating as a museum with a regular visiting route. Its facade and distinctive corner at Thunovská and Sněmovní can be admired from the street, on the short walk from Malostranské náměstí toward the Chamber of Deputies.

Frequently asked questions

Is this the same Kolowrat palace as the Senate building on Valdštejnská? No. Prague has several buildings connected to the Kolowrat family — this one on Sněmovní/Thunovská is a different building from the palace on Valdštejnská (part of the Senate complex) or the one at Ovocný trh.

Where does the building's name come from? From the Kolowrat family, who owned the house from the early 17th century. Before that, it was known as "Bělehrad."

Is the palace a protected monument? Yes, it has been listed as a cultural monument since 1964.

Who uses the building today? The Chamber of Deputies of the Czech Parliament, specifically its Parliamentary Institute.

Where exactly is it located? On the corner of Thunovská and Sněmovní streets in Malá Strana, close to the Chamber of Deputies building and Malostranské náměstí.