Villa Rothmayer

Villa Rothmayer sits in the quiet Prague district of Břevnov and stands as one of the most personal statements of Czech interwar modernism — a house its architect built for no one but himself.

Who designed it, and why does it look this way?

The villa was designed by Otto Rothmayer (1892–1966), an architect best known for his long-term work on Prague Castle. He built the house between 1928 and 1929 as a home for his own family, which explains why every detail feels deliberate rather than dictated by a client's brief. Rothmayer spent years as a close collaborator of Josip Plečnik, the Slovenian architect behind the redesign of the presidential residence at the Castle, and it was from Plečnik that he absorbed a taste for forms echoing Mediterranean architecture. That influence is visible in the villa's austere, unornamented facade and its strictly symmetrical window arrangement.

What's inside worth seeing?

Behind the plain exterior, the two-storey house hides a detail that draws architecture enthusiasts on its own: a spiral staircase set inside a concrete cylinder, forming the visual and structural heart of the interior. Around it, Rothmayer designed furniture in a strictly functionalist spirit — cabinets and panels that fold away, slide out, or collapse flat, squeezing extra use out of every square metre of a compact house. The severity of the facade is offset by colourful window frames and climbing plants along the walls, giving the villa a warmer, almost garden-like character despite its geometric discipline.

How do you plan a visit?

The villa operates as a branch of the Prague City Museum, located at U Páté baterie 50, Prague 6 – Břevnov. Visits are guided-tour only, and spots must be reserved in advance by phone or email — there's no walking in unannounced. From April to October, tours run on Tuesdays, Saturdays and Sundays at 10am, noon, 2pm and 4pm, with an extra Thursday slot at 10am, noon, 2pm, 4pm and 6pm. In the winter months (November to March), the schedule shrinks to Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays at 10am, noon, 2pm and 4pm. The garden alone can be visited daily, Tuesday through Sunday, from 10am to 8pm, with no reservation needed. A standard ticket costs 250 CZK, a reduced one 180 CZK. It's worth considering the combined ticket with Villa Müller (Adolf Loos's own masterpiece), priced at 550 CZK standard or 330 CZK reduced — the two houses sit close together and make a natural pairing as contrasting takes on modernist living. The building is not wheelchair accessible.

When's the best time to come?

Villa Rothmayer is open year-round, so timing mostly comes down to when you can book a tour slot rather than the season itself. Summer months offer more time options, which makes it easier to slot the visit into a wider day of sightseeing in Prague. Because each tour takes a limited number of visitors, booking ahead — especially for weekend slots — is the safer bet.

Frequently asked questions

Can I visit without booking ahead? No. Entry is only possible as part of a guided tour, and spots need to be reserved by phone or email before you arrive.

How much does admission cost? A standard ticket is 250 CZK and a reduced one 180 CZK. The combined ticket with Villa Müller costs 550 CZK standard or 330 CZK reduced.

Is the villa accessible for wheelchair users? No, the building has no accommodations for visitors with limited mobility.

What's the connection between Villa Rothmayer and architect Josip Plečnik? Otto Rothmayer worked alongside Plečnik for years on Prague Castle, and it was through that collaboration that he picked up the Mediterranean-inflected architectural forms visible in his own family home.