About this place
Palác Hrobčických (also known as dům U Tobolky, the "House at the Pouch") is an early Baroque palace building in the heart of Prague's Old Town, with its main facade on Rytířská street 401/20 and a rear facade facing Provaznická street. It has been protected as a cultural monument of the Czech Republic since 1964, though it has stood empty and inaccessible for years.
Where exactly is the palace located?
Rytířská street connects the area around the Old Town with Wenceslas Square, running right past the Havelský Market in the very center of Prague's historic core. It's a stretch of narrow, densely built streets typical of the city's medieval and Baroque burgher-palace architecture, where centuries of rebuilding have layered on top of one another.
How old is the building really?
The plot's history goes far deeper than the Baroque facade suggests. In the basements beneath the wing facing Rytířská street, an early medieval residential tower has survived — a structure linked to the founding of Havelské Město (Havel's Town) in 1232. It's one of the few places in Prague where a construction from nearly eight centuries ago still stands beneath a modern street.
On these Gothic foundations, a building was erected in the 15th century that, according to architectural research, resembled a single-wing, two-story tower house. Only after 1680 was the actual early Baroque palace built on this base, with further modifications carried out at the end of the 18th century.
Who designed the facade?
The facade facing Rytířská street is considered one of the most valuable examples of early Baroque palace architecture in this part of the city. Its quality and style point to an architect of Italian origin, though no specific name is firmly confirmed in available sources.
Can visitors go inside today?
No. The building has long been vacant and out of use. In 2004–2005, unauthorized construction work seriously damaged the interiors and courtyard. Since then the palace has stood empty, in what is described as critical condition — repair or reconstruction work still hadn't begun years later. The property's current owner is the organization Maitrea.
For visitors, this means the palace can only be seen from the outside, while walking along Rytířská street — which is still worthwhile, since it lets you appreciate a rare combination of medieval building fabric hidden behind an early Baroque facade.
Why is it worth a stop, even with the interior off-limits?
Palác Hrobčických is a good illustration of just how many historical layers make up Prague's Old Town. Walking along Rytířská between Wenceslas Square and the Old Town, it's worth pausing to look at the facade — one of the few buildings in the area whose structure conceals nearly eight centuries of continuous history, from a medieval residential tower to a Baroque rebuilding.
Frequently asked questions
Is the palace open to visitors? No, the building has been vacant and inaccessible for years due to damage caused by unauthorized construction work in 2004–2005.
Where does the palace's name come from? The name comes from the Hrobčický z Hrobčic family, former owners of the building; it's also historically known as dům U Tobolky.
What is the oldest part of the building? An early medieval residential tower preserved in the basement, linked to the founding of Havelské Město in 1232.
Where exactly is the palace located? On Rytířská street 401/20 in Prague's Old Town, with a rear facade on Provaznická street.
Is the building legally protected? Yes, it has been a registered cultural monument of the Czech Republic since 1964.
Nearby places
Earn badges for the places you visit
Download NextOnTrip, discover new places and check off your trails.