National Gallery: The Kinsky Palace

You can find the Kinsky Palace just in the middle of Prague at the Old Town Square. This palace used to be a former school of Franz Kafka, but also a birth house of peace Nobel prize winner. Today, this elegant building is hosting exhibitions that provide a bit different points of view than is the mainstream. Check the actual program and explore more about this remarkable place.

Exhibitions in the Kinsky Palace

The building of the Kinsky Palace is like the museum itself. The underground is from the Middle Age, and the building itself combine several styles, from features of the Rennaisance, the Classicism, and the Rococo façade.

The exhibitions are changing almost every three months. Check the actual program of the Kinsky Palace. From my experience, I would say that you can usually find here the exhibitions on impressionism or Asian art. In the past, I like the exhibitions on French impressionism, on Czech impressionists in France or Caligraphy in Asian paintings.

Story of the Kinsky Palace

The Kinsky Palace derives its name from the noble family Kinsky who were the owners from 1756 until 1945. In meanwhile, two important historical persons were closely connected with this place, Bertha von Suttner and Franz Kafka. In 1843, the first woman awarded the Nobel Prize for peace, Austrian writer Bertha von Suttner was born here. Half-century later, Franz Kafka attended secondary school in the ground floor of the palace, between 1893 and 1901. Also, his father had a small kiosk on the ground floor where young Franz Kafka used to spend his time.

History of the 20th Century brings significant moments to this palace as well. In the period between the wars, there was a Polish embassy (1922–1934). With the end of the war, the democratic and communist representatives fought for power. In February 1948, the communist leader Klement Gottwald addressed the people from the balcony of the palace and announced the beginning of the communist era.

The Palace became a part of the Prague National Gallery in 1949. Today, the Prague National Gallery consists of several buildings, such as Trade Fair Palace, Sternberg Palace, Schwarzenberg Palace, Salm Palace, Convent of St. Agnes, Waldstein Riding School, and of course, Kinsky Palace, the most centrally located one.

How to Get to the Kinsky Palace

The Palace is located in the very city center of Prague, at the Old Town Square, just next to the Gothic tower of the Stone Bell House (Dům U Kamenného zvonu), and the Týn`s Church. The Old Town Square is a quiet touristic place, but you can find here several interesting places. I would recommend the visit of the Old Town Hall and its medieval tower, the Illusion Art Museum, and the Scout Institute.

The gallery is open every day from 10 am to 6 pm (Wednesday until 8 pm). Only Mondays are closed.