In the Desfour Palace, exhibition spaces or a café will be created

Prague - New exhibition spaces or a café will be created in the Desfours Palace on Na Florenci Street in Prague. The empty palace, which is in poor condition, has been placed under the management of the Museum of the Capital City of Prague (MHMP). This decision was made today by Prague councilors. MHMP is struggling with a lack of exhibition spaces. The palace, which is a protected monument, is located near its main building in Florenc. The founder of MHMP is the capital city.

The museum has long been struggling with a lack of exhibition spaces. "In this building, it is expected to house an exhibition of the history of Prague in the 19th, 20th, and early 21st centuries, including the history of the First and Second World Wars and the history of totalitarianism," it is stated in the material approved by the councilors. A café or restaurant would also be included, from which the museum would secure part of the funding for its operation.

The museum’s headquarters would move to the palace, and operational facilities would be created here. About 60 employees would move in. The museum’s management is currently located in a building on Kožná Street, where the city is a co-owner. However, the property is burdened with 14 lawsuits that the museum has been involved in since 2006, concerning the determination of the amount of compensation for the use of the premises, with a total claimed amount of 14.5 million crowns and an additional 9.8 million.

Before the museum moves into the palace, it will need to be repaired due to its poor condition. The scope and cost of the reconstruction are not yet known. The municipal department of culture and tourism will ensure a revitalization study.

The Desfours Palace was built in the late Neoclassical style between 1845 and 1847. The architect was Josef Kranner, who constructed it for Count Desfours-Walderode. The original interiors, a three-flight suspended marble staircase, mosaic parquet floors, and other valuable items such as chandeliers, stained glass windows, and tiled stoves have been partially preserved inside.