Morzin Palace

Morzin Palace (Morzinský palác) is a Baroque residence on Nerudova street in Prague's Lesser Town, best known for the monumental balcony held up by statues of Moors. Since 1925 the building has housed the Embassy of Romania, making it one of the few Prague palaces that has served an unbroken diplomatic role for nearly a century.

Who built the palace, and why does it carry the Morzin name?

The plot on Nerudova street belonged to Count Václav Morzin (1676–1737), who in 1713 commissioned architect Jan Blažej Santini-Aichel to design a grand Baroque rebuilding of the property. Construction was finished the following year, an unusually fast pace by the standards of the time. The palace takes its name directly from its patron, and it has kept that name ever since.

Where do the Moor statues on the façade come from?

The palace's most recognizable feature is a pair of monumental chained Moor figures that support the balcony above the entrance. They are the work of Ferdinand Maxmilián Brokoff, one of the leading sculptors of Czech Baroque and the creator of several statues on Charles Bridge. The Moors are not a random choice: they play on the Czech pronunciation of the name Morzin, which echoes the word for a Moor (Mouřenín). Because of this visual pun, the building is sometimes known informally as the "House of the Moors."

What other sculptural decoration appears on the façade?

Beyond the Moor statues, the façade carries a rich allegorical program. Busts personifying Day and Night sit above the portals, an elaborately carved family coat of arms occupies the centre of the façade, and allegorical figures representing the Four Parts of the World — America, Europe, Asia and Africa — stand on the attic. Together, the decoration reflects the high-Baroque habit of fusing architecture with an ambitious symbolic program meant to underline the standing and aspirations of the patron who commissioned it.

Why does the Romanian Embassy occupy the palace today?

After Václav Morzin's death the palace passed through several owners before the Romanian state acquired it in 1925 for its diplomatic mission in Prague. The Embassy of Romania has occupied the same Baroque building ever since, a continuity that is unusual among Prague's representative palaces. Because of its diplomatic function, the palace is not open to the public and can only be admired from the outside while walking along Nerudova street.

Where exactly is the palace located?

Morzin Palace stands on Nerudova street, one of Lesser Town's best-known and most-visited streets, leading up towards Prague Castle. Surrounded by numerous other Baroque houses and palaces, it forms a natural stop on any walk through this part of the city.

Frequently asked questions

Can visitors go inside Morzin Palace? No — the building houses the Embassy of Romania and, as an active diplomatic mission, is not open to tourists. It can only be viewed from the street.

Who designed the palace? The 1713 Baroque rebuilding was designed by architect Jan Blažej Santini-Aichel for Count Václav Morzin.

Why is the building nicknamed the "House of the Moors"? Because of the two chained Moor statues by sculptor Ferdinand Maxmilián Brokoff that support the entrance balcony — a playful reference to the sound of the name Morzin.

Where is the palace located? On Nerudova street in Prague's Lesser Town, along the route leading up to Prague Castle.