Thurn-Taxis Palace in Prague's Malá Strana

Thurn-Taxis Palace is a neoclassical residence in Prague's Malá Strana district, formed by joining two early Baroque houses into a single building. It takes its name from the aristocratic Thurn-Taxis family, who owned the property for most of the 19th and 20th centuries, and today it houses the Anglo-American University Prague. While the street-facing facade reads as distinctly 19th-century neoclassical, the courtyard wings still betray the much older Baroque fabric underneath.

Where does the building come from, and who commissioned it?

The palace's story begins after 1696, when two adjoining early Baroque houses were combined into a single residence for Count von Daun, a Prague military commander. Over the following decades the property changed hands repeatedly, at one point coming into the possession of the House of Liechtenstein, one of the most powerful aristocratic families in Central Europe at the time. This kind of turnover between noble families was typical of the grand residences of Malá Strana, a district that had been filling up with aristocratic palaces since the early modern period.

When did the palace become the seat of the Thurn-Taxis family?

The building passed into the hands of the Thurn-Taxis family in 1814. It is this family that gave the palace both its present name and, eventually, its present appearance. In 1871, the new owners commissioned a thorough neoclassical remodeling, carried out to designs by architect J. Bělský. The building's form and decoration have remained substantially unchanged since that renovation, with original 19th-century interiors and architectural details still preserved.

What does the palace look like today?

The building consists of four wings arranged around a square courtyard — a layout inherited directly from the two original Baroque houses. The courtyard wings are single-storey, and their facades retain a distinctly Baroque character that contrasts with the more formal street front. The two-storey street wing is marked by two entrance portals and an elaborate Thurn-Taxis coat of arms set centrally on the facade — the building's most recognizable feature when viewed from outside.

What is the palace used for now?

The building has been protected as a cultural monument since 1964. In 2014, a comprehensive renovation was carried out with investment from the Prague 1 municipal district. Today the palace is home to the Anglo-American University Prague as well as a kindergarten, meaning it remains in everyday educational use rather than functioning purely as a museum piece.

Where exactly is the palace located?

The palace stands in Malá Strana, in Prague 1, on Letenská street, surrounded by other historic residences of this part of the city. It's a convenient stop for anyone walking through Malá Strana between Charles Bridge and the Wallenstein Garden.

Frequently asked questions

Can visitors go inside Thurn-Taxis Palace? The building houses a working university (Anglo-American University Prague) and a kindergarten, so its interiors serve ongoing educational use rather than being a general tourist attraction — the facade and courtyard, however, can be freely admired from outside.

Why is the palace named Thurn-Taxis? The Thurn-Taxis family owned the building from 1814 and commissioned its neoclassical remodeling in 1871, giving it the appearance it retains today.

How old is the building? Its core dates back to the joining of two early Baroque houses after 1696, while its current neoclassical look comes from the 1871 remodeling.

Who owned the palace before the Thurn-Taxis family? It was originally built for Count von Daun, a Prague military commander, and among its later owners was the House of Liechtenstein.

Where exactly does the palace stand? On Letenská street in Prague 1's Malá Strana district, near several other historic residences of the area.