Description of the attraction
The palace complex was created in the spirit of classical baroque and is in the shape of a closed symmetrical rectangle. It has 4 three-storey wings that enclose the courtyard. Above the portal of the main facade are the aedicules, decorated with columns with 2 coats of arms.
There are 2 towers in special niches, which indicate the Roman style of the building; they give the palace's external appearance charm and lightness. On the roof of the establishment there are 7 original sculptures (Sēptem ārtes liberāles), symbolizing the free art of the Hellenistic era. Their author is Johann Brokoff.
The corner of the building is decorated with a highly artistic work - a statue of St. Michael in a stucco frame. He was considered the patron saint of the first owner. The masterpiece was sculpted by a well-known Czech master named Ottavio Mosto in 1693. Today, not a single tourist passes by the sculpture so as not to photograph it.
At the end of the 20th century, the Tuscany Palace was reconstructed. Pavel Kupka supervised the repair work. Upon completion of construction, the building was awarded an architectural prize - GranPrix Architektu.
What's in the building today?
Currently, the Tuscany Palace houses the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic. The building often hosts various state celebrations and meetings, and important receptions are held.
Who can visit the Tuscany Palace?
The western side of Hradcanska Square is occupied by the magnificent Tuscan palace, erected in the Baroque style for Count Thun-Hohenstein in 1691. A few decades later, the Duchess of Tuscany bought the palace, and from now on the mansion will be named after her last name.
The palace looks pretty representative. It consists of four wings and an inner courtyard, as well as two turrets that give the structure and appearance of the palace lightness and charm.
On the roof of the palace, between the two towers, seven original sculptures depicting the liberal arts can be seen. The statues were created by Jan Brokoff, a Czech master, the author of the sculpture by Jan Nepomuk on the Charles Bridge. This facade design reminds attentive travelers that this mansion is very similar to some Roman buildings. The façade is decorated with two ducal coats of arms, which perfectly complement the discreet design of the palace.
The corner of the palace is decorated with a statue of St. Michael, who was considered the patron saint of the Thun-Hohenstein family, the customers and the first owners of this palace. The statue was made two years after the construction of the palace, so just place it on the wall in the place specially left for this. The statue of St. Michael is a highly artistic work, which you simply cannot pass by without capturing it on your camera.
Nowadays, the palace houses the services of the Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Sometimes important receptions take place here, serious meetings are arranged and state problems are solved.
Hradcany Square is a place where you can endlessly turn your head while looking at the spectacular architecture.
As a guide in Prague, during my tour of Prague, I tell interested parties “what it is and where it comes from”. Well, as soon as I am not around, my "Free Guide" will help all those who are curious.
The Tuscan Palace in Prague is a wonderful baroque contraption that deliciously adorns Hradcany Square.
In ancient times, on the site of this architectural charm, there were some houses, at the end of the 17th century bought by the Tun-Hohenstein family from the Lobkovtsy family.
By that time, the Tun-Hohensteins were well-known Tyrolean gentry, who had appeared in the annals of European historiography back in the 11th century. For centuries, these guys have served the Holy Roman Empire as either the highest government officials or as bishops and archbishops.
In the first half of the 17th century, finding themselves in the victorious Habsburg wake, the newly minted Counts of Thun und Hohenstein gladly began to buy luxury real estate and multiple bohemian hectares.
In those days, the Thun-Hohenstein adored stylish baroque buildings, attracting prominent European architects to create them.
In 1685, Mikhail Oswald Thun-Hohenstein purchased the same pubbkovy houses a hundred meters from Prague Castle and began building a large, beautiful meadow.
The scale of the planned palace can easily be called the apotheosis of the Baroque ambitiousness of the Thun und Hohenstein of the era of Leopold I.
The counts did not spare money for their mansion and, having arrived a little earlier in Prague, the architect Jean Baptiste Matei promised to become their chief architect for a substantial fee.
After filling out the necessary papers and a ritual blow to the hands, hammers, pickaxes and shovels rattled in Hradčany.
Count Michael Oswald's neighbor, Count Martinets, tried to protest against the daily rumble, however, the emperor, who intervened in the noble dispute, approved the construction of the palace in every possible way.
Count Michael introduced himself without waiting for the completion of construction work, and his brother, Count Maximilian, ceded ownership of the choir under construction to his sister. The same, in turn, assigned them to other relatives.
For all that, the pleasure of finishing the northern part of the palace fell to a completely stranger - the Princess of Saxe-Lauenburg from Schleswig-Holstein, the Countess of Mecklenburg and the Grand Duchess of Tuscany, the builder of an infinite number of churches, cathedrals and all kinds of castles, an extremely devout person, a lover of builders and detailed reconstructions - by Anna Maria of Tuscany.
During her reign, Václav Špáček became the chief architect of the palace.
Anna Maria also did not live to see the end of construction. The acceptance certificate of the completed object was signed by her daughter Maria Anna. Further, the Tuscany Palace went into the hands of the following children and grandchildren.
In 1803, Ferdinand of Habsburg became the legitimate prince of Tuscany.
Since that time, the Tuscan Palace in Prague has become the property of the imperial dynasty.
By coincidence, in 1918, the new authorities told the Habsburg gentlemen "Dosvidos, papa", and the Tuscany Palace was transferred to the balance of the Czechoslovak state.
Soon, employees of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs moved into its walls. At the end of the 20th century, reenactors became quite interested in the palace building, eventually turning it into what can be seen in my photograph.
The monumental Tuscany Palace is now occupied by the Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs, so an ordinary visitor will not be able to get inside. But outside you can admire: magnificent baroque, magnificent sculptures and decorations on the facade, windows, arches, balconies - wonderful architecture!
Tuscan Palace (Toskánský palác), photo by Zden Her
The Tuscan Palace (Toskánský palác) is built in the spirit of the classical Roman Baroque. The balustrade on the attic of the building is decorated with statues of Sēptem ārtes liberāles - the “seven free arts” of the Hellenistic era. There is a statue of St. Michael, patron saint of the Thun-Hohenstein family. The facade is decorated with 2 coats of arms of the Dukes of Tuscany.
The history of the appearance of the palace
In 1689, Michael Oswald, Count Thun-Hohenstein, decided to build a palace in the western part of the square, instead of several houses from the 14th century. There were disagreements with the owners of neighboring buildings: the new palace would have closed their facades. The conflict was resolved in favor of the Count himself by the Emperor Leopold.
Palace in the Hradcany Square ensemble, photo Roland Christian Richter
The palace was designed by 1690 by Jean-Baptiste Matey, the founder of the early Prague Baroque. The work was supervised by Mark Antonio Canevalle. The figures of the "seven arts" were sculpted by Johann Brokoff. The magnificent statue of the Archangel Michael, located at the corner of the palace, according to the assumptions of art historians, was created by Ottavio Mosto - around 1693.
The first owner of the palace did not live to see the completion of all the works. The unfinished building was bought by Anna Maria Francisca, Duchess of Tuscany, in 1718. Under the new owner, the project was completed. The palace received the name and family coat of arms of the Dukes of Tuscany. In 1803-1918. the building was owned by the Habsburgs. In 1918, the Tuscany Palace was transferred to the Czech Foreign Ministry.
Architecture
The palace complex is made in the form of a closed rectangle and consists of four three-story wings that enclose the courtyard. Two fountains are installed in the niches of the courtyard facades. Above the portals of the main facade there are aedicules framed by columns, above them, on one axis, there are two ducal coats of arms.
In 1996–98. was reconstructed under the direction of Pavel Kupka. The work was awarded the architectural prize of the year - GranPrix Architektů. Today the Tunovsky Palace still belongs to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It is closed to tourists during normal times. Ground floor facilities are available for excursions and events by prior reservation.
