Behind the origins of the Art Nouveau style at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries was a desire for the harmonious expression of a “total work of art”. Today it is precisely Art Nouveau buildings that are an essential part of many Czech cities and are among the most beautiful structures that modern architecture brought to the Czech lands. Let yourself be enchanted by the elegant palaces, hotels, and also the paintings and jewellery that have become an inseparable part of Czech culture. Discover the stories behind such magnificent buildings as the Municipal House in Prague and revel in their unique beauty!
It is easy to recognize Art Nouveau architecture at first glance. On a beautiful facade you will see harmoniously intertwined flowers and leaves along with depictions of beautiful women. The most magnificent examples in Prague are the Municipal House with its superb restaurants, and the superlative building of the Main Railway Station, with the Fanta Café. A unique Art Nouveau building is the Bílek Villa below Prague Castle, which is meant to symbolize a field of rye. Would you like to submerge yourself in this elegant style as intensively as possible? Then stay at one of the city’s Art Nouveau hotels! Among the most beautiful are the Hotel Paříž and the Hotel Evropa in the heart of Wenceslas Square.
View the paintings of the Art Nouveau greats
You will find Art Nouveau treasures in other Czech cities, too. Outstanding examples are the spectacular Jurkovič Villa and the Tivoli residential block in Brno; the breathtaking Národní dům in Prostějov, and the buildings on the left bank of the Elbe River in Hradec Králové. For a better understanding the Art Nouveau style, you can view the fascinating paintings of the world-famous Czech artist Alfons Mucha, who remains one of its most important practitioners. His works can be admired at a museum named after him on Panská Street in the centre of Prague and at the National Gallery’s Veletržní Palace.