The Art Nouveau Palace Hotel Prague embodies one of Prague's most precious architectural treasures. The hotel is located in the very centre of the city - just on the borderline between historic Old and New Towns. Both streets whose common corner is adorned by the hotel had been amongst the primary thoroughfares of the first ever European city to have been built according to architects' designs. They were planned already during the foundation of the New Town of Prague by Charles IV in 1348. Famous artists including Carl Maria von Weber, Rainer Maria Rilke and Franz Kafka, were profoundly influenced by this area, as can be seen in their works of art. There is no other comparable hotel in Prague, which could boast such a rich and exciting history of the building it occupies. The area of land where the hotel was later raised is first mentioned in historic records in 1378. It was then a residential house of an aristocrat, a subject of king Wenceslas IV. The house was then assigned to a prominent prince of the Kaunicz family in 1776, to be later taken over by Auersperks, who made it their second palace in Prague. The 19th century saw another transfer of the property into the hands of a middle class proprietor, where part of the residence was used by the German liberal literary newspaper publishing house, Prager Tagblatt. In 1903, the Prague builder and hotel proprietor, Mr. František Buldra, together with the architect George Justich, launched the development of the Art Nouveau Palace Hotel Prague on the original medieval groundwork. The building itself was completed on April 21st 1909. In 1924 the new owner, Mr. Emanuel Oppel, turned the edifice into a competitive luxury hotel. Soon after, the Art Nouveau Palace Hotel Prague became the focal point of Prague's social and cultural life. Josephine Baker was one of its first well-known guests. Two of the functions rooms are aptly named after eminent residents – the great Czech opera voice, Emma Destinová, and her professional partner Enrico Caruso. In 1986 the long history of the Art Nouveau Palace Hotel Prague almost came to its end. The hotel was closed due to a need of renovation. Its architecture, decorations and precious chandeliers were also affected by the ravages of time. The Art Nouveau Palace Hotel Prague reopened in 1989 after being carefully restored to its former glory, preserving the simple Viennese secession character and keeping the features that allowed the building to be so easily distinguished from other art nouveau structures in Prague. The revival of the hotel in 1989 marked the beginning of the most successful and famous period in the hotel's more than a century long history. The Art Nouveau Palace Hotel Prague has become the choice of many world renowned figures during their visits in Prague. Among the most famous guests were presidents, industrialists and world famous music, movie and sport stars. These include, among many others, Henry Kissinger, Giscard D'Estaing, Miguel de la Madrid, David Rockefeller, Carl Hahn, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, Alain Delon, Miloš Forman, Dick Francis, Whoopi Goldberg, Lenny Kravitz, Mick Jagger, John Malkovich, Gina Lollobrigida, Cher, Uma Thurman, Steven Spielberg, Rolling Stones, Metallica, Scorpions, Roxette, Led Zeppelin, Pelé, Alberto Tomba and Bobby Charlton. At the Art Nouveau Palace Hotel Prague, you will discover a luxurious retreat away from the hustle and bustle of the modern day, immersing yourself in the tranquillity of the hotel, which radiates the nobility of an historic era.
