Palác Podstatských z Prusinovic

Palác Podstatských z Prusinovic is a Baroque-remodeled town house in the historic center of Olomouc, standing on the corner of Ztracená and Michalská streets, a short walk from the Upper Square.

Where exactly is it, and why does it matter?

The building occupies a corner plot between Olomouc's Upper Square and Michael's Hill, right in the middle of the old town. It's registered as a protected cultural monument, though next to the cathedral and town hall a few streets over, it's easy to walk past without noticing — which is a shame, because the facade facing Ztracená street is one of the more distinctive pieces of civic architecture in the city center.

Who were the Podstatský family, and how old is the building?

The house takes its name from the Podstatský z Prusinovic family, an old Moravian noble line first documented in written records back in the 13th century. They held estates around Přerov and Zlín, served in Moravian land offices, and were raised to baronial rank in 1627; two separate branches of the family later received the title of count, in 1707 and 1744. Their coat of arms still marks the stone entrance portal today. But the plot's history predates the family's ownership — the earliest known owner of the house, recorded in 1443, was a man named Mikuláš Zews. Originally the site held two separate houses, each with its own entrance: one opening onto Michalská street, the other onto Ztracená.

What does the architecture actually show you?

The building rises three storeys on medieval Gothic foundations, built up first in Renaissance style and later reworked into Baroque form. That Baroque remodeling, carried out around the turn of the 18th century, is most visible on the Ztracená street facade: pilasters divide the wall surface, and the first-floor windows alternate between triangular and arched pediments. Visitors enter through a stone portal bearing the Podstatský family's heraldic shield. Below the building, medieval barrel-vaulted cellars have survived largely intact — the oldest surviving part of the whole structure, predating everything built above it.

Can you go inside?

No — this is a private building, not a museum, and there's no ticketed access or permanent exhibition. Under the communist regime the house was owned by the city; it passed into private hands in 2010. The building's appeal lies entirely in its exterior, best appreciated on foot while walking between the Upper Square and Michael's Hill. A 2017 renovation restored the front facade, so the Baroque details — pilasters, window pediments, the carved portal — are in good condition and easy to make out today.

When's the best time to see it?

Since this is a street-level, exterior visit, the season matters less than the time of day. Morning and late-afternoon light brings out the relief of the Ztracená facade nicely, and quieter hours let you study the portal and window details without the foot traffic heading straight for the main square.

Frequently asked questions

Where is Palác Podstatských z Prusinovic located? On the corner of Ztracená and Michalská streets in Olomouc's historic center, near the Upper Square.

Can you visit the interior? No. It's a privately owned building with no public exhibition — visitors view it from the street, focusing on the facade and entrance portal.

Where does the building's name come from? From the Moravian noble Podstatský z Prusinovic family, whose coat of arms appears on the stone portal, though the house's own history goes back further, to 1443.

What's the oldest surviving part of the building? The medieval barrel-vaulted cellars beneath the Gothic foundations, which predate the Renaissance and Baroque structure built above them.