Troja Palace in Prague

Troja Palace is a Baroque residence in Prague's Troja district, built as a summer seat for the Šternberk family on the bank of the Vltava. Today it houses the City Gallery Prague's permanent collection of 19th-century Czech painting, and its gardens and grand staircase are among the most visited spots in this part of the city.

When was the palace built, and who commissioned it?

Construction began in 1679 at the initiative of the Šternberk family, who wanted a representative summer residence close to Prague. The new building was meant to underline the family's standing among Bohemian nobility and to serve as a retreat outside the city walls.

Who designed the building?

The first design came from Giovanni Domenico Orsi, who was fairly quickly replaced by the French architect Jean Baptiste Mathey, born in Dijon. Mathey reworked the original concept into a more regular layout, centered on a large state hall, and it is his version of the plan that gave the palace the form it still keeps today.

What do the frescoes in the main hall depict?

The Flemish painters Abraham and Isaac Godyn were brought in to decorate the interior. On the ceiling of the main hall they painted a sweeping fresco showing the imperial army's victory over the Ottomans at Vienna, a battle after which the Šternberks were granted the right to augment their coat of arms with a raven plucking out a Turk's eye. The rest of the ceiling and walls are filled with scenes drawn from mythology.

What is there to see in the garden?

The garden is laid out across three terraces in the French Baroque style. It contains sculptures, terracotta planters, pergolas, and an orangery decorated with busts of Roman emperors. A grand outdoor staircase leads up into the garden, its balustrades lined with statues depicting a battle of giants — one of the most recognizable features of the whole estate. Several outbuildings stand nearby, including stables and a wine press house, recalling the neighboring Saint Clare's vineyard.

What can visitors see inside the palace today?

The palace is open to visitors and run by the City Gallery Prague. Its rooms display a permanent exhibition of 19th-century Czech painting, though the interiors themselves — frescoes included — are worth the visit on their own, regardless of the paintings on show.

Frequently asked questions

Where is Troja Palace located? In the Troja district of Prague, right on the bank of the Vltava.

Who designed the palace? The French architect Jean Baptiste Mathey, who took over the project from Giovanni Domenico Orsi.

Which family built the palace, and when? The Šternberk family, who had it built as their summer residence starting in 1679.

What does the fresco in the main hall show? The imperial army's victory over the Ottomans at Vienna, painted by the Godyn brothers.

What collection is on display in the palace today? The permanent exhibition of 19th-century Czech painting, part of the City Gallery Prague.