House of Artists ( Dum umelcu ) – This grandiose construction, with its elegant architectural forms, stands majestically on the banks of the Vltava and overlooks the square named after Jan Palach, the martyr of the ” Prague Spring ” in 1968. It is also known as the Rudolfinum, as it was named in honour of Rudolph of Habsburg.

It was built in the second half of the 19th century by J. Zitek and J. Schulz. Once the seat of the Czechoslovak Parliament ( 1919 – 1939 ), it is considered to be one of the most outstanding examples of neo – Renaissance architecture in Prague. 

An allegory dedicated to Wagner adorns the main entrance, while the balustrade is decorated with statues of illustrious artists and musician. Of particular interest inside the building is the sumptuously decorated Dvorak Hall. Close to the river is the Statue of Josef Manes, by B. Kafka ( 1951 ). The nearby Manesuv most is also named after this Czech artist.

The building which stands here today is the result of a faithful reconstruction of the original, destroyed in the second half of the 18th century.

This work was completed in the early 1950s by J. Fragner who gathered information about the original chapel from old iconographic sources, descriptions and prints of the earlier building, This had been built towards the end of the 14th century at the request of the citizens of Prague who wanted a church where they could celebrate Mass in their own language.

Instead the church authorities only gave their permission for the construction of a Gothic chapel, although this was capable of accommodating a congregation of 3000.

The Czech reformer Jan Hus preached from its pulpit in the first half of the 15th century, and even after his death the Bethlehem Chapel remained one of the strongholds of the Prague Hussite movement. In the first half of the 17th century the chapel belonged to the Bohemian Brotherhood, but after the Battle of the White Mountain ( 8th Nov 1620 ) it passed into the hands of the Jesuits.

In 1733 the Order was dissolved and not long afterwards the building was destroyed.       The interior contains wall paintings based on the Velislav Bible, the Jena Kodex, and the Richenthalsch Chronicles. Also on view are some passages from the J. Hus and J. ze Stribro treaties.

The whole length of the ground floor level is constructed with massive diamond – pointed rustication. Work was begun on the palace in the second half of the 17th century by order of the Ambassador to Vienna, Count Czernin of Chudenice. It was completed towards the end of the century under the supervision of the diplomat’ s son, Hermann Czernin.

The many eminent Italian artists who took part in the construction of the palace made some outstanding contributions, among whom was F. Caratti.

In the first half of the 18th century the adjoining garden was added, as was the magnificent stairway with its ceiling fresco by V.V. Reiner ( Fall of the Titans ). During the same period, F.M. Kanka made some adjustments to the building. Towards the middle of the 18th century renovation work was needed, following the French occupation, and this was carried out by A. Lurago who added three doorways and rebuilt the garden Orangery in Rococo style. Around this time I.F. Platzer produced several sculptures which now decorate the palace halls.

The Czernin Palace  is the largest of the baroque palaces of Prague, which has served as the offices of the Czechoslovak and later Czech foreign ministry since the 1930s. It was commissioned by the diplomat Humprecht Jan Černín z Chudenic, the Habsburg imperial ambassador to Venice and Rome, in the 1660s.