Kučerův palác

Kučerův palác (Kučera Palace) is a Rococo palace on Pohořelec square in Prague's Hradčany district, just a short walk from Prague Castle, the Loreta shrine and Strahov Monastery. Also known under its older names "U Zlaté lodi" (At the Golden Vessel) and the "Demartin house," the building has been listed as a Czech cultural monument since 1958 and is regarded as one of the most decorative facades on Pohořelec.

How did the building evolve over the centuries?

Three narrow, Gothic medieval houses originally stood on the site. During the Renaissance they were merged into a single building known as "U Zlaté lodi." A first Baroque remodeling took place around 1723 under an owner from the Vrbna family, but what visitors see on Pohořelec today largely traces back to the mid-18th century: a fire in 1742 badly damaged the square's earlier Baroque buildings, clearing the way for a far more ornate reconstruction.

Who was Kučera, and where does the palace's name come from?

The name still used today comes from Karel Kučera, an imperial official who administered land records. Kučera bought the house from Emanuel of Kolowrat and, between 1764 and 1769, had it rebuilt in a late Baroque style already shading into Rococo. The design is attributed to architect Jan Josef Wirch, a noted builder of Prague palaces and churches at the time. The result is the richly decorated, undulating facade that still sets the building apart from its neighbors on Pohořelec.

What happened to the palace afterward?

After Kučera's death, the building passed to the Demartin family, well-known Prague chimney sweeps, which is where one of the palace's alternate names comes from. During the 19th century it operated as an ordinary tenement house, in the first half of the 20th century it housed a hotel, and after the Second World War the building was used as offices. A thorough renovation in the 1990s helped preserve the historic facade in good condition to this day.

Where exactly is Kučerův palác located?

The building stands at Pohořelec 114/22 in Hradčany, Prague 1, right next to one of Prague's most recognizable viewpoint squares. From there it's just a few minutes on foot to Prague Castle, the Premonstratensian monastery at Strahov, and the Loreta shrine, making this stretch of the tourist route unusually rich in sights.

Who is this place for?

Kučerův palác isn't a museum with a regular exhibition, so its main draw is the facade itself and its history - it's a natural stop for anyone walking through Hradčany between the Castle and Strahov, and a highlight for architecture enthusiasts looking for one of Prague's better-preserved examples of Rococo style. It also works well as a landmark when planning a longer walk through this part of the city.

Frequently asked questions

What does the name Kučerův palác mean? It refers to Karel Kučera, an imperial land-records official who bought the house and had it rebuilt between 1764 and 1769.

What was this building called before? It was earlier known as the house "U Zlaté lodi" (At the Golden Vessel), and later, after a change of ownership, it was also referred to as the Demartin house.

Who designed the palace's current facade? The late Baroque-Rococo reconstruction is attributed to architect Jan Josef Wirch.

Where is Kučerův palác and what's nearby? The palace stands at Pohořelec 114/22 in Hradčany, close to Prague Castle, Strahov Monastery and the Loreta shrine.

Can you go inside the palace? The building doesn't operate as a museum with a regular visitor exhibition - its main appeal is the historic Rococo facade, visible from Pohořelec square.