Schwarzenberg Palace

The Palace was built between 1545 and 1576 for the Prague Count Jan Lobkowicz the Younger. Hence it was originally known as the Lobkowicz Palace. Designed by the Italian master builder Agostino Galli, the palace is one of the finest examples of Renaissance architecture in Prague. The remarkable sgraffito decorations on the wall give the impression that the walls are built out of large pyramid shaped stones. Inside, the ceilings are decorated with magnificent 16th century frescoes depicting classical scenes.

In 1593 the emperor confiscated the palace after he sent the owner, Jirí z Popelu Lobkovicz to prison on charges of betrayal and fraud. The Palace was handed over to Petr Vok z Rožmberka. After being in the possession of several other owners, the complex was obtained by the Schwarzenberg family, after whom the Palace is now named. They owned the palace from 1719 until 1948.

The Schwarzenberg Palace was first used as a museum in 1910, when the Technical Museum used the building for exhibitions. From 1945 until 2002 the palace was home to the Military History Museum. In 2007, after a five year long restoration, the building reopened to the public as a department of the National Gallery. The museum's exhibitions cover late renaissance art from Bohemia, both sculptures and paintings.