The first thing you will notice about Prague is the incredible architecture. The distinctive ‘cake-like’ buildings (as I like to describe them), the colours, and the marvellous detail. I admit, I haven’t studied architecture or design since c.1998, so I’m not going to give you an architecture lesson. But I did want to share a few of my favourite buildings and areas in Prague.
Wandering around the city is an easy way to see the different styles of Prague architecture on offer.
A Self-Guided Tour of Architectural Styles in Prague
Art Nouveau
Opposite the Můstek subway station is the Art Nouveau beauty, the Grand Hotel Evropa on Wenceslas Square. If you can, go inside to see the characteristic ‘total artwork’ ideals (the application of style to all areas of the building) of the Art Nouveau movement. There are Art Nouveau gems all around Prague – don’t miss the Alphonse Mucha Museum (Kaunický Palác).
Renaissance
Vodickova School – Neo Renaissance
You will see examples of Neo-Renaissance everywhere on your architectural tour of Prague. We spotted this delightful Neo-Renaissance elementary school building near our hotel. Built in 1866, it is covered in sgraffitoes and alegorical figures in plaster. Sgraffito is when you scratch away plaster to reveal a contrasting layer of plaster or stucco. The detail on this building was incredible.
For up to date information about Prague and tourism in the city, visit the official Tourist Website for Prague.
House of the Minute – Renaissance
One of the more famous Renaissance buildings in Prague is the striking The House at the Minute which sits in between the Old Town Square and Little Square.
At the beginning of the 1900s, this house and the neighbouring house were due to be demolished to open up the gap between the Old and Little Squares. But when sgraffitoes were discovered in the neighbouring building, they were both kept and restored. The bold features are relatively unusual for a house that wasn’t built for famous people. It’s true, Franz Kafka was a resident as a child, but he wasn’t famous then!
Don’t miss the ultimate cake-like building, the pink and curly Kinsky Palace!
Baroque
The Two Saint Nicholas’ – Baroque
There are two Baroque St Nicholas’ churches in Prague, which is a little confusing. One in the Old Town, off the main square (photo above), and one over in the Lesser Town (Malá Strana). But, if you want to see the Baroque masterpiece by the famed architects, Christoph and Kilian Ignaz Dientzenhofer, head to Malá Strana (you should spend a lot of time here anyway). Right near the Malostranské námÄ›stà tram stop, St Nicholas sits up the hill, notable for its big green dome and bell tower (photo below).
Love architecture? Then you’ll love the Painted Ladies in San Francisco!
The Jewish Quarter
The Regeneration of the Jewish Quarter
Due to overcrowding and bad sanitation, the Jewish slums were demolished and regenerated between 1896 to 1912. Only 6 synagogues, the Old Jewish Cemetery and the Jewish Town Hall remained as evidence of the old Jewish town.
The diversity of styles of architecture being produced at the time is illustrated here. In the picture below you can see Art Nouveau, Baroque, and Renaissance influences; as well as some elements of Classicism in the columns on the white building at the end.
Gothic
The Church of our Lady before Týn is a Gothic church on the Old Town Square. Like something out of a fairytale, the two imposing bell towers end up in many photographs of Prague. The bell towers aren’t identical in size; and they were finished about 20 years apart. It is odd to think of this well-balanced building ever being without one of the towers.
Neo-Baroque (Reconstructivist)
The Dancing House
In amongst the Art Nouveau buildings of the New Town and the Classicist grandeur of the Smetana waterfront, on the edge of the Vltava river, is the modern masterpiece The Dancing House. Vlado Milunić (with cooperation from Frank Gehry) designed Dancing House; and it was finished in 1996. Milunić designed it to remind you of a dancing couple.
Frank Gehry nicknamed it ‘Fred & Ginger’ after Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers; but after seeing it come together decided that such a kitsch American nickname wasn’t befitting such a stunning building. It is a sultry and dynamic addition to Prague’s rich architecture.
Successionism
I could spend hours looking at the Art Nouveau buildings and communing with Alphonse Mucha. Prague is lucky to have a hugely rich surviving collection of Art Nouveau style buildings, as it avoided the bombs of WWII (unlike poor Dresden). I would recommend a visit to Vienna to see more of the Secessionist movement too.
Successionism: In opposition to the conservative err towards Historicism which had seen many Gothic, Baroque and Renaissance buildings in the Old Town demolished and rebuilt in the Historicist style; Secessionist buildings focussed on geometric forms and decoration.
A Virtual Tour of Prague Architecture
Overall, I was far more drawn to the Renaissance and Baroque ‘cake-like’ buildings than I thought I would be. The detail in these buildings is captivating and so intricate.
Prague has suffered somewhat from its own popularity, with overwhelming tourist numbers during summer and in December for the Christmas markets. I would definitely recommend visiting during the quieter months, such as late winter and early spring, in order to enjoy your own tour of Prague architecture uninterrupted!
If you love architecture in particular, I would recommend a trip to Chicago!
All photos © Hannah Henderson and may not be used without permission (sharing this blog post is fine, though!). Images shot with a Canon DSLR T3i Rebel + Canon EF 35-80mm f/4-5.6 III; and an iPhone6s.
These pics are amazing! I love the color and details on all these buildings! Great job with the photos.
Prague is magic, I had a chance to explore it last year. I found a cubist building, with a caffe designed in a same style. I think that was my favourite building. 🙂 Your post brings back good memories.
I have only been to Prague a couple of times. The popular areas are intense and hard to get a feel for – even if you get up early. But there are some parts of the city which are really quite special and worth exploring and which are off the beaten track.
I love this guide, with such a clear write up of what to look for in terms of architecture – definitely something for me to check out before I go next time.
Thanks Fiona. Yes, some parts were overwhelming due to the crowds. But we enjoyed over the bridge in Malá Strana and will definitely spend more time away from the Old Town on our next visit.
Prague is an art student’s dream come true! I wish I could remember my own studies better so I could impressively rattle off the various architectural styles, but you actually gave me a good refresher course. And truly, what a gorgeous city! Beautiful photos too.
The architecture of the buildings is a mix of several styles. Initially it took time for me to distinguish one from another.The modern architecture too is very interesting.
You have captured the essence of the architectural types of Prague. I was there this summer and was mesmerized by the number of historical buildings and most of it survived WW2. I would love to visit Prague sometime in winter too 🙂
the architecture is beautiful, the new and the old. I would love to go to Prague as it is so interesting. Thank you for the tip about it being busy in December, I will avoid that month!
I’m yet to explore Prague solely for its architecture but I bet every moment spent in Prague for me is no regret. I intend to visit again, this time to do more of architecture. I’ve seen many of its buildings and I also want to have some shots myself. I love all shots you have here
I love how you have categorized the architecture. Exactly what I would do! Prague is on my bucket list for so long! Hopefully will tick it off in 2018. I love renaissance and baroque architecture. As an artist, I would love to sketch these beauties! Will try to visit it in a quieter month.
I am an architect too but it seems I was more interested in the city’s beer than its architectural wonders! But i could see the dancing house and that counts double, i guess, because it is not that central! next time i go to prague i would like to see something of Alphonse Mucha me too. he must have interesting works there. Thanks for the architectural walk!
Wow, what incredible design and architecture. love the gothic and baroque styles. while i have not made it to prague yet, I’m looking forward to one day seeing this amazing architecture for myself. great job with the photos!
I also fell in love with the architecture in Prague – the colors, and the different styles, though the Renaissance buildings really captured my heart! The House at the Minute is so beautiful – I’m so glad that it was kept and restored – it would have otherwise been a tragedy!
What I really love about prague is how it so effortlessly blends these different styles – it’s like a walking tour through the ages as architecture evolved!
Prague is really really nice, I’ve been there last year during Christmas time, and it was so impressed by the architecture.
Nice post I really like it.
Plenty to get me exploring here Hannah. Thanks for sharing.
Big thanks for telling us about this topic. Your words made me feel like I was there, seeing all the old-timey beauty. I’m super excited to maybe go see it for real someday. You’re awesome for sharing this cool stuff. I have a relevant topic about this.