Tucked away in Prague’s charming Nový Svět district, U Zlatého Žaludun stands as a testament to a fascinating past. U Zlatého Žaludun, or “The Golden Acorn,” isn’t just a quaint name. It reflects the whimsical nature of this area where houses boast names like “Golden Star,” “Golden Pear,” and “Golden Lamb.” U Zlatého Žaludun was originally built in 1708 for František Santini Aichel. He was the brother of the famous architect Jan Blažej Santini Aichel. Sadly, František passed away only a few years later. The Lobkowicz family then acquired the Baroque villa. They remodeled it and donated it to Capuchin musicians.
U Zlatého Žaludun offers a glimpse into the early days of Nový Svět. This area was once considered a poorer district. Many residents worked at Prague Castle. Perhaps to compensate for their modest means, they adorned their homes with these fanciful names. The house itself is a preserved example of the original Nový Svět architecture. It retains a charming village-like atmosphere. The current structure reveals a symmetrical nine-axis façade under a hipped roof. A five-axis core rises in the center. The main cornice is elevated. Above it sits a three-axis roof extension crowned by a fragmented niche and statue. Stone surrounds frame the windows, and a cornice band wraps around the first floor.
An adjacent garden with a semi-circular glazed entrance complements U Zlatého Žaludun. The main entrance, located in the courtyard, features a saddle portal with handles and a flat vault. A five-sided balcony with a simple rod railing graces the first floor. The glazed balcony doors, nestled within the walling, are mirrored by oval windows, with another window tucked into the lintel. This lintel is capped with a segmented glazing and a triangular gable with rich cornices. Attached to U Zlatého Žaludun is a courtyard with an elongated ground-level building along the terrace wall. Beyond lies a garden, added later to house Loretan singers in the 1720s. On the south side of the garden stands a modern garage with gates in the enclosure wall. A vaulted cellar occupies the space beneath the front central part of the building, featuring barrel vaulting made of local limestone. The original central section is the heart of the building. Entering from the courtyard, a hall unfolds with a two-armed, wreathed staircase to the side. Two rectangular, walled portals lead from this hall to adjoining rooms. Only the opposing stairwell showcases a beautiful barrel vault with one five-sided and one (now deformed) lunette. The remaining rooms have beamed, flat ceilings. The lower landing of the staircase features a groin vault. Above the upper landing lies a flat section with a mirror. The first floor echoes this layout, although the rooms here have flat ceilings.