Lobkowicz Palace at Prague Castle

Lobkowicz Palace is a Baroque residence at the lower end of Jiřská Street inside Prague Castle, the only privately owned building within this UNESCO World Heritage complex. It now houses a museum built around the Lobkowicz family's own art collection.

Who built the palace, and when?

Construction began before the mid-16th century under Wolf Krajíř of Krajek and continued between 1555–1562 and 1570–1576 under the brothers Jaroslav of Pernštejn (1528–1569) and Vratislav II of Pernštejn (1530–1582), the latter serving as Chancellor of the Bohemian Kingdom. Before the palace was built, the site held Gothic noble houses dating back to the 13th century.

How did the palace pass to the Lobkowicz family?

Ownership moved to the Lobkowicz family through the marriage of Polyxena of Pernštejn to Zdeněk Vojtěch Popel of Lobkowicz, the 1st Prince of Lobkowicz (1568–1628). Aside from two confiscations in the 20th century, the palace has remained linked to the family ever since.

What happened here during the 1618 Defenestration of Prague?

When the royal governors Vilém Slavata and Jaroslav Bořita of Martinic were thrown from the windows of the castle chancellery, they found shelter in Lobkowicz Palace under the protection of Polyxena of Lobkowicz. The palace is therefore tied directly to the event that triggered the Thirty Years' War.

What happened to the building in the 20th century?

The palace was confiscated twice in the 20th century, first under the Nazi regime and later under the Communist government. It underwent a major reconstruction between 1973 and 1986, then housed the National Museum's historical collections from 1987 to 2006. The Lobkowicz family regained ownership in 2002, and the palace reopened to the public as a museum on 2 April 2007.

What can visitors see inside?

The audio-guided exhibition presents the Lobkowicz Collections, one of Europe's oldest and richest private art collections, with objects spanning more than 2,000 years. Highlights include paintings by Canaletto, Bruegel and Velázquez, medieval and Renaissance artworks, arms and armor, and ceramics — among them the largest surviving Delft dinner service, made around 1685. The museum also displays historic musical instruments and hand-annotated musical manuscripts by Haydn, Mozart and Beethoven.

Where exactly is the palace located?

The palace sits at the lower part of Prague Castle, along Jiřská Street, at coordinates 50.087172, 14.398048 — right among the castle's other historic buildings, making it easy to combine with a visit to the rest of the Hradčany complex.

Frequently asked questions

What is Lobkowicz Palace? A Baroque palace inside Prague Castle, the only part of the complex privately owned — by the Lobkowicz family — and now home to a museum of their art collection.

When was the palace built? Construction started before the mid-16th century, with the main building work carried out between 1555 and 1576 under the Pernštejn brothers.

What is the palace's connection to the Defenestration of Prague? In 1618, the two royal governors thrown from the castle windows took refuge here, protected by Polyxena of Lobkowicz.

When did the palace open as a museum? After being restituted to the Lobkowicz family in 2002 and renovated, the museum opened to the public on 2 April 2007.

What will I see in the museum's collection? Paintings by Canaletto, Bruegel and Velázquez, historic arms and armor, a rare Delft ceramic dinner service, and musical manuscripts by Haydn, Mozart and Beethoven.