Art galleries exhibition spaces foundations and cultural centers Prague

Located in the Smíchov district, in a disused factory, the Futura art centre is a place of residence as much as an exhibition space. The aim of the art centre is to bring together young international creativity and the Czech art scene in the same space, creating an environment conducive to encounters between artists and the different artistic disciplines. The 1,000 ^{m2 of} exhibition space is divided into three levels with a wide variety of architectural styles. The gallery houses works by Czech and international artists.

This imposing neo-Renaissance building sits north of J. Palacha Square, at the entrance to the Mánesův Most Bridge. It was built in 1884 to provide the city with a large concert hall. It was named after Rudolf, the crown prince of Austria. In its short history, it was a concert and exhibition hall, the Czechoslovakian Parliament, the seat of the German occupiers, and later the seat of the Philharmonic and the Conservatory. During the Second World War, the Nazis decided to remove the statue of the Jewish musician Mendelssohn. But not knowing which of the sculptures represented him, they removed the one with the most prominent nose... bad luck: it was the statue of Richard Wagner! After independence, the building suffered from a serious lack of maintenance and underwent a complete restoration. Today the Rudolfinum houses excellent temporary exhibitions organized by the National Gallery or the Museum of Decorative Arts. It is also the home of the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra and offers some of the best classical music concerts to be heard in Prague. Whether or not you are a classical music fan, don't hesitate to come and spend an evening at the Rudolfinum: you will rub shoulders with the Czechs, who are well-informed music lovers if ever there was one, and enjoy the extraordinary acoustics in a human-sized hall (1,100 seats in all) where the musicians are right in front of you. Please note that proper attire is required on concert nights.

DOX has already established itself as one of Prague's leading art venues. In a former factory, converted into a majestic, luminous 6,000^m2 exhibition space, twenty to thirty exhibitions are held each year, featuring the great names of the international scene and the major artists of Central Europe. The museum also boasts a boutique with an eclectic yet rigorous selection. Finally, on the top floor, a large terrace with a pleasant café, overlooked by monumental sculptures, offers a breathtaking view of the Prague of tomorrow.

Hidden for many years behind a neo-Baroque façade from the 19th century, this jewel of Prague's Gothic architecture, which actually dates from the 13th century, was discovered during construction work. It is now open to the public under the direction of the Prague City Gallery. The magnificent fragments of architecture and sculptures are a reminder of the city's medieval glory. Exhibitions are held here, as well as a bookshop and a charming little café.

Originally part of the Benedictine convent of Břevnov, the residence of Hvězda (Šternberský palác) is located very close to the religious building, in the area of the former hunting reserve created in 1534 in the Malejov forest. It can be reached by a long, very long, straight path that pierces the forest. The paths are very popular with the residents of the surrounding neighbourhoods: walking, mushroom picking, running: weekends are very lively! At the end of the 18th century, the forest was transformed into an English-style park. The pavilion itself, in Renaissance style, was built in the years 1555-1556. Transformed into a powder magazine under Joseph II, restored in 1949, it now exhibits the works of the writer Alois Jirasek and the painter Mikolas Aleš. It is a strange building, stocky, white, which evokes a little bit of a flower that blooms. It is embellished with white and red shutters. It also presents a gigantic historical and panoramic reconstruction of the Battle of the White Mountain, which will delight lovers of modern history. It is indeed in the extreme southwest of the reserve that the last phase of this battle took place, in the context of the Thirty Years' War, which opposed the armies of the Czech, Moravian and Silesian states, to that of Ferdinand II. A monument commemorates this event. Next to it (at the terminus of tram 22), the Baroque church of Our Lady Victory was built in the 18th century to celebrate the Habsburg triumph.

This superb gallery, on the first floor of the cloister, gathers Czech works from different periods: Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque, but it is especially for this first part that it is world famous. During his reign, Rudolph II effectively collected most of what is now one of the largest collections of Gothic works in the world. The masterpiece of this sumptuous collection is Strahov's Madonna (14th century).

Inaugurated in February 2022, the Kunsthalle is housed in a former electricity transformation plant at the foot of the castle. The personal collections of its founders, Petr and Pavlína Pudil, form the basis of a small permanent exhibition, but it is above all for the exciting temporary exhibitions devoted to contemporary artists that the Kunsthalle is worth a visit. The store and bistro are equally recommendable for enthusiasts who wish to linger and enjoy the superb facilities.

Gallery La Femme exhibits works of contemporary Czech artists, all of them related to women, femininity or the female condition. Paintings, engravings, sculptures: women as an eternal inspiration for artists is its main subject - you can discover women in infinite variations, of different sizes and colors. The gallery owner, with 40 years of experience in the art business, will share his knowledge with you. He emphasizes the quality and diversity of the works exhibited.