Prague Guide
Prague
Obecní dům
Price: guided tours 160Kč
Opening time: guided tours daily 10am–7pm
Website: www.obecnidum.cz
Attached to the tower, and built on the ruins of the old royal court, the Obecní dům (Municipal House) is by far the city's most exciting Art Nouveau building, one of the few places that still manages to conjure up the atmosphere of Prague's fin-de-siècle café society. Conceived as a cultural centre for the Czech community, it's probably the finest architectural achievement of the Czech national revival. Designed by Osvald Polívka and Antonín Balšánek, it is extravagantly decorated inside and out with the help of almost every artist connected with the Czech Secession. From the lifts to the cloakrooms, just about all the furnishings remain as they were when the building was completed in 1911.
The simplest way of soaking up the interior – peppered with mosaics and pendulous brass chandeliers – is to have a drink in the cavernous café, or a meal in the Francouská restaurace or the Plzeňská restaurace in the basement. For a closer inspection of the building's spectacular interior (which includes paintings by Alfons Mucha, Jan Preisler and Max Švabinský, among others), you can sign up for one of the regular guided tours. Several rooms on the second floor are given over to temporary art exhibitions, while the building's Smetanova síň, Prague's largest concert hall, stages concerts, including the opening salvo of the Pražské jaro (Prague Spring Festival) – traditionally a rendition of Smetana's Má vlast (My Country) – which is attended by the president.