Liechtenstein Palace on Kampa Island

Liechtenstein Palace on Kampa Island is a Baroque residence standing right on the bank of the Vltava, in Prague's Malá Strana district. Completed at the end of the 17th century, it has passed through more than three centuries of changing owners and uses — from an aristocratic family seat to city property, and finally to its current role as a government residence and television studio.

When was the palace built, and who designed it?

The present building dates from 1697–1698. The design came from Giovanni Battista Alliprandi, one of the leading architects of Prague Baroque, while the construction itself was carried out by František Helfried of Kaiserstein. The Kaiserstein family were the palace's first owners, holding it until 1726.

What makes the building's architecture distinctive?

The palace stands out for its unusual hexagonal floor plan and its two small towers overlooking the river — a layout rarely seen among Prague residences of the period. A tunnel runs beneath the building straight to the Vltava, connecting it to a small private landing so that residents could once step into a boat without leaving the house. The originally Baroque facade changed in 1864, when an additional floor was added and the front was reworked in the Classical style — the look the palace still carries today.

How did ownership of the palace change over time?

After the Kaiserstein family, the estate passed to the Kolovrat family, who held it from 1741 to 1831. It then belonged for a few decades to the House of Liechtenstein — the source of the name still used today, even though the family owned it for a shorter stretch than some of its predecessors. From 1864 the residence belonged to the Odkolek family, entrepreneurs active in milling and baking, before passing to the City of Prague in 1897. In 1978 the palace was taken over by the Office of the Presidium of the Government of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic, whose legal successor is today's Office of the Government of the Czech Republic.

What is the palace used for today?

The building remains under the Czech government's administration and serves as a residence for important state guests as well as a venue for conferences and cultural events. Following repairs to flood damage in 2002, its interiors have continued to host representative functions, and since 2020 part of the palace has also been used as a television studio by broadcaster Prima. A comprehensive reconstruction between 1982 and 1991 restored much of the building's representative character after decades of institutional use.

Is this the same palace that houses HAMU?

No — and the mix-up is common. Prague has two palaces bearing the Liechtenstein name. The one described here stands on Kampa Island, directly on the Vltava, and serves government functions. The other, far better known for its concerts, sits on Malostranské náměstí and has housed the Music and Dance Faculty of the Academy of Performing Arts (HAMU) since the 1990s, together with the Bohuslav Martinů concert hall. The Kampa Island palace has no educational or concert function.

Frequently asked questions

When was Liechtenstein Palace on Kampa Island built? It was built in 1697–1698, to a design by Giovanni Battista Alliprandi.

Where does the palace's name come from? From the House of Liechtenstein, which owned the building from 1831 to 1864 — despite not being its first or longest-tenured owner.

What are the palace's architectural features? A hexagonal floor plan, two riverside towers, and an underground tunnel leading to a private landing on the Vltava.

Who owns the palace today? The Office of the Government of the Czech Republic, which uses it as a residence for state guests and a venue for official events.

Is this the palace where HAMU students study? No. HAMU is housed in a different Liechtenstein palace, on Malostranské náměstí, in another part of Malá Strana.