Kaunický palác

Kaunický Palace, also known as Kounický Palace, is a Baroque building in Prague's New Town district, located on Panská Street. The history of the property goes back to the 15th century, when it was still a mid-sized townhouse. In the early 18th century, the Schaffgotsch family had the building converted into a stately palace to meet the demands of high noble office. Ownership later changed hands several times until the family of the Counts Kounic acquired the palace in the 19th century and gave it its current name. In addition to the main building, the complex includes the Wittmanovský Dům, which grew out of former garden houses, as well as a historic garden.

Architecturally, the building bears witness to several stylistic eras. Originally built in the Baroque style, it was given a Neoclassical makeover in the 18th century. The palace gained particular significance through the alterations made in the first half of the 19th century for the Salm-Reifferscheidt family. These produced a two-story ballroom whose murals, painted in the style of early Romanticism, depict scenes from the Nibelungenlied. This artistic décor is a major highlight for visitors interested in the art-historical development of the region.

Today the palace belongs to the City of Prague, which leases it long-term to the Alphonse Mucha Museum. The remaining stately rooms regularly host concerts, receptions, and other social events. The adjoining Wittmanovský Dům, which was completed after a comprehensive renovation in 2019, now houses the Institute for Art and Theater Studies. The palace is protected as a cultural monument and offers a glimpse into the eventful history of Prague's aristocratic and bourgeois culture.