Vojta Náprstek

The memorial plaque to Vojta Náprstek marks the house known as "U Halánků" on Betlémské náměstí in Prague's Old Town, honoring one of the most influential Czech patriots and museum founders of the 19th century.

Where exactly is the plaque located?

The plaque is mounted on the former house "U Halánků," registration number 269, at Betlémské náměstí 1 in the Staré Město (Old Town) district of Prague 1. The spot sits in the historic core of the city, only a short walk from the Bethlehem Chapel, Náměstí Republiky and Charles Bridge. Its coordinates are 50.083999, 14.41662.

Who was Vojta Náprstek?

The plaque commemorates Vojtěch Náprstek, commonly known as Vojta Náprstek, born Adalbert Fingerhut. He was born in this very house in 1826 and died here in 1894. Náprstek spent years in the United States, where he worked as one of the pioneering Czech-language journalists, before returning to Prague and dedicating his life to public education, philanthropy and the advancement of Czech culture. He was also an outspoken supporter of women's equality, an unusually progressive stance for a public figure in 19th-century Central Europe.

What does the inscription say?

The bronze plaque carries a relief portrait of Náprstek along with text stating that he lived and died in this house between 1826 and 1894, describing him as a fighter for cultural and social progress and noting that in 1862 he laid the foundations here for the museum that today bears his name. The plaque was created by sculptor M. Knobloch and unveiled in 1962, exactly one century after the museum's founding.

Why does the house "U Halánků" matter?

After returning from America, Náprstek turned this house into a meeting point for Czech intellectuals and reform-minded citizens, gathering technical, industrial and ethnographic collections he brought back or received from travelers. That collection grew into what is now the Náprstek Museum of Asian, African and American Cultures, one of Prague's most distinctive museums, which traces its roots directly to this address.

What else is worth seeing nearby?

Because the plaque sits in the densely built heart of the Old Town, a visit pairs easily with a walk across Betlémské náměstí, a stop at the nearby Bethlehem Chapel where Jan Hus once preached, and a short walk to the Náprstek Museum itself, which continues the work its founder began in this house.

Frequently asked questions

Where is the house "U Halánků"? At Betlémské náměstí 1 in Prague's Staré Město district, next to the Bethlehem Chapel.

Who was Vojta Náprstek? A Czech patriot and philanthropist born Adalbert Fingerhut, founder of the Náprstek Museum of Asian, African and American Cultures and a supporter of women's rights.

When was the plaque unveiled? In 1962, on the hundredth anniversary of the museum Náprstek founded.

Who made the plaque? Sculptor M. Knobloch created the bronze relief portrait.

Can the house itself be visited today? The building is part of the Old Town's street front; visitors get the fullest picture of Náprstek's legacy at the nearby Náprstek Museum.