Clam-Gallas Palace

The Clam-Gallas Palace on Husova Street in Prague's Old Town is the former townhouse of the Clam-Gallas noble family and one of the most important Baroque urban palaces in Central Europe. It was built from 1707 to 1714 to plans by Johann Bernhard Fischer von Erlach, the architect of Vienna's Karlskirche and the Imperial Library. The portal is flanked by two pairs of Atlas figures by sculptor Matthias Bernhard Braun, among the finest sculptures of Bohemian high Baroque. Inside is the famous staircase with frescoes by Carlo Carlone. Beethoven gave a concert in the great hall in 1798, and in the 19th century the Swedish queen Desiree Clary lived here for a time. Since 2002 the building has belonged to the city of Prague and houses the city archive and changing exhibitions. The courtyard and main staircase are usually freely accessible; the state rooms only during exhibitions.