Toskánský palác

The Tuscan Palace is a grand Baroque building standing on the western side of Hradčanské náměstí, right beside Prague Castle, in the Hradčany district of Prague 1. Today it houses the Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and its restrained yet monumental facade is one of the most recognizable parts of the square that fronts the castle complex.

Why is it called the Tuscan Palace?

The building's story begins in 1685, when Count Michael Oswald Thun bought up a row of burgher houses on the site, intending to build a residence worthy of his family's status. Emperor Leopold I granted permission for construction in 1690, and the design came from the workshop of Jean Baptiste Mathey, a French-born painter and architect who shaped much of Habsburg-era Baroque Prague. Despite this origin, the palace does not carry the Thun name: it takes its title from Anna Maria Franziska, Grand Duchess of Tuscany, who acquired the property in 1718. It was under her ownership that architect Václav Špaček carried out significant alterations, giving the building much of the form it still shows today.

How did it end up as a government building?

For roughly two centuries the palace remained in Habsburg hands. That changed with the founding of independent Czechoslovakia in 1918, when the building passed into state ownership and became home to the newly created Ministry of Foreign Affairs. That role has continued, with interruptions tied to the turbulent history of the twentieth century, and it is this diplomatic function most Prague residents associate with the palace today.

What did restoration work uncover?

A major renovation ran from November 1995 to February 1998, and it turned up a genuine surprise: workers uncovered seventeenth-century wall frescoes in several rooms, painted over and hidden for generations beneath later layers of plaster and decoration. The find allowed conservators to restore parts of the interior closer to their original Baroque appearance, and it remains one of the strongest arguments for the palace's historical value even though the building functions as a working government office rather than a museum.

What can visitors actually see there?

Because the palace serves as the ministry's seat, its interior is not open on the same terms as a converted palace-museum elsewhere in Prague. The ground floor, however, includes a hall used for exhibitions and social events, and it occasionally opens to the public during events such as the annual Noc Literatury (Night of Literature) evening. The exterior facing the square — with its measured rhythm of windows and understated Baroque decoration — is visible year-round and forms a natural stop on any walk through Hradčany toward the castle gates.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you go inside the Tuscan Palace? The interior is a working ministry building rather than a standard tourist site, though the ground-floor hall sometimes opens for public cultural events.

Where does the palace's name come from? From Anna Maria Franziska, Grand Duchess of Tuscany, who took ownership of the building in 1718 after its original Thun-family owners.

Who designed the palace? Jean Baptiste Mathey drew up the original 1690 design, and Václav Špaček carried out the major remodeling after 1718.

Where exactly is the palace located? It stands on Hradčanské náměstí, directly beside the main entrance to Prague Castle's courtyards, making it a natural stop when touring the castle complex.