Municipal House: inside Prague's Art Nouveau showpiece

The Municipal House makes people stop dead on the pavement. Gilded dome, mosaic above the entrance, curved glass canopy: it looks like a very expensive cake. And inside, the Art Nouveau carries on floor after floor, down to the light fittings and the doorknobs. Even the cloakroom has a style.

What it is

Obecní dům means Municipal House, and it was built as a civic centre for Prague. It opened in 1912 on the site of the former Royal Court, beside the Powder Tower on the edge of the Old Town. Many Czech artists worked on the interior, with painting, sculpture, stained glass and metalwork in a national Art Nouveau style.

Inside you will find a concert hall, decorated salons, cafés, restaurants and event spaces. It is a public building, but opening arrangements differ from room to room, which is why a visit needs a little planning.

A place in history

In October 1918 the creation of an independent Czechoslovak state was announced in Prague, and the Czechoslovak National Committee met in the Municipal House. So the building belongs to the story of the Republic, not just to music. The communist period brought changes, and the building was restored later, with a major reconstruction in the 1990s.

Smetana Hall

The main concert space is Smetana Hall (Smetanova síň), a large, richly decorated room with a stage framed by sculpture. It is the home of the Prague Symphony Orchestra FOK, and the traditional opening venue of the Prague Spring festival, which starts each year with Bedřich Smetana's cycle Má vlast (My Country) around the anniversary of the composer's death in May.

The acoustics, the balconies and the view over the audience are worth seeing even if you are not a big concert-goer. Seats vary a lot in view and sound, so ask the box office about positions if you can. The central stalls are the obvious choice, but a balcony seat gives you the room itself: the stage, the ceiling and the glass.

How to visit

There are two main ways in. Come for a concert, which is the best way to see the hall as it is meant to be seen. Buy from the official box office or the organiser, and check the date, start time and programme. Or take a guided tour, which includes salons that are not otherwise open. Tour times and languages change (as of 2026; check the official source).

You can also sit in the ground-floor café, a public space and one of the more atmospheric spots in the Old Town for a coffee. Prices reflect the setting, so treat it as paying for the room.

What locals know

For Praguers, the Municipal House is where you go for a ball, a big-name concert or a coffee you want to remember. The Prague Spring opening is a national moment, broadcast and discussed, and Má vlast is treated with something close to reverence. If you hear the opening notes of "Vltava", the best-known movement, you are listening to the Czech equivalent of a national hymn about a river.

Locals also know the lower floors have atmospheric spaces for lunch or an after-work drink, and that the exterior is best seen from Náměstí Republiky before you go in, where the mosaic above the entrance catches the light.

Combine it

Next door, the Powder Tower belongs to the city's historic gate system, and Celetná Street leads on to Old Town Square along the old Royal Route, where coronation processions once passed. Walk it in the morning, when it is calmer.

Practical notes

The nearest metro is Náměstí Republiky on line B, and some trams stop nearby. Doors get busy before a concert, so allow time for the cloakroom, and check the dress and entry rules for each event.

What to look for inside

If you only have a short visit, pick three things. First, the ceiling and the decoration in Smetana Hall, where the sculpture and painting pull your eye upwards. Second, the details: handrails, lamps, tiles and stained glass, which were designed together with the architecture. Third, the café, where you can sit under the same roof without a ticket.

Art Nouveau in Prague is a national style as much as a decorative one. Czech painters, sculptors and craftspeople were asked to show what a modern Czech identity might look like, and the Municipal House is the grandest result. Allow time. The building rewards slow looking more than any checklist.

Seeing it well

Go on a clear day to see the exterior, then step in for the interior. The Art Nouveau mosaic over the main entrance is worth a long look from the square. If you take a tour, listen for the stories behind the artists and the commissions. The building was meant to show what Czech craft could do, and it still does.

Frequently asked questions

When did the Municipal House open?

In 1912, on the site of the former Royal Court, beside the Powder Tower.

Which orchestra is based in Smetana Hall?

The Prague Symphony Orchestra FOK.

Can I see inside without a concert ticket?

Yes. Guided tours show rooms that are otherwise closed, and the ground-floor café is open to the public. Check times on the official site.

What opens the Prague Spring festival?

Traditionally Smetana's Má vlast, in Smetana Hall, around the anniversary of his death in May.

Today: look at the Prague Symphony Orchestra FOK programme and decide whether you would rather see Smetana Hall in a concert or on a tour.