Palffy Palace

Pálffy Palace (Pálffyho palác) is a Baroque and Classicist palace on Valdštejnská Street in Prague's Lesser Town (Malá Strana), occupying a large stretch of the southern slope below Prague Castle. It is best known for its two terraced Italian-style gardens rising toward the Castle, and today it houses the Prague Conservatory.

What stood on the site before the palace?

The plot along today's Valdštejnská Street originally held two separate medieval houses: a burgher's house somewhat ironically named "U tří králů" (At the Three Kings), and an aristocratic house that at one point belonged to the Švamberk family. A significant Renaissance rebuilding took place between 1580 and 1592.

When were the two houses joined into one palace?

The two previously independent properties were first united in 1709 by Count Jan Josef of Valdštejn (Waldstein), who then commissioned an extensive Baroque renovation of the whole complex. The palace's present form was given to it by František Maximilián Kaňka, who rebuilt it between 1714 and 1716 for the same owner — it is this campaign that shaped the building as it can still be seen today.

Where does the name Pálffy Palace come from?

The name only entered the building's history in the second half of the 19th century: in 1881 the palace was bought by Count Eduard Pálffy of Erdőd, a member of the Hungarian-Austrian Pálffy family, which at the time also owned several similarly named residences in Vienna, Bratislava and Budapest. The Prague palace is the only property this family held in the Czech capital.

What do the palace gardens look like?

The current appearance of both terraced, Italian-style gardens dates to around 1751, when the estate was managed by Maria Anna of Fürstenberg. The large garden was laid out as a representative space with a central staircase flanked by Baroque portals and a round basin holding a cast-iron statue of Triton. The small garden is far more modest, planted with fruit trees.

What protected status does the palace have?

Pálffy Palace has been a listed cultural monument since May 1958, has formed part of Prague's protected heritage zone since August 1971, and since 1992 has been included in the UNESCO World Heritage site "Historic Centre of Prague." The building is now city-owned and is used mainly by the Prague Conservatory, a school for musicians.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Pálffy Palace in Prague the same building as the Pálffy Palace in Vienna or Bratislava? No. The Pálffy family owned several Central European residences carrying the same name — in Vienna, Bratislava and Budapest — but the Prague palace on Valdštejnská Street is a distinct building with its own architectural history, unrelated in construction to the others.

Can visitors enter the palace gardens? The two terraced gardens are one of the notable features of this part of the Lesser Town, known for their views toward Prague Castle; access can depend on the building's current use and scheduled events, so it is worth checking opening hours on site.

Who designed the palace's current form? The shape the palace has today was given to it between 1714 and 1716 by František Maximilián Kaňka, commissioned by Count Jan Josef of Valdštejn.

Where exactly is the palace located? On Valdštejnská Street in Prague's Malá Strana district, on the southern slope below Prague Castle, immediately next to the castle grounds.