A wooden Hercules stares defiantly at you. He clutches a lion. This is the Menhartovský Palace. Its baroque grandeur whispers tales of centuries past.
Built around 1700 this palace stands proudly where older houses once stood. Records mention these homes as far back as 1402. One was even known as “U koz” or “At the Goats”. After the Hussite wars these smaller homes were combined into the larger structure we see today.
The Menhartovský Palace boasts a rich history of ownership. Kryštof Harant of Polžice and Bezdružice owned it. So did Adam of Valdštejn. Later Jan Kristian Stubig and Jan Bedřich Manhart owned the property. Their ownership marked a significant period in the palace’s history. It was during this time that the early Baroque reconstruction occurred. The father-son team of Vít Václav Kaška and František Maxmilián Kaška are credited with this transformation.
In the second quarter of the 18th century František Mikuláš Hartmann of Klarstein took ownership. While he owned the palace Jan Petr Molitor lived there. He created frescoes which are sadly gone today. The Piarist religious order purchased the Menhartovský Palace in 1752. They used it for their school. A statue of St John Nepomuk remains. It dates to around 1755 from their time of ownership. The palace later became imperial property. A silk and cloth manufactory operated within its walls. Further renovations in the early Classical style followed likely by František Heger.
The Menhartovský Palace’s two wings were created by dividing a single building sometime in the 18th century. Today the building is home to the Divadlo v Celetné theatre and the Institute of Art. Its story intertwines with Prague’s vibrant cultural life. Stand here. Feel the weight of history. The Menhartovský Palace. A testament to Prague’s enduring charm.