The Mozart Prague

The Mozart Prague (formerly the Smetana Hotel) is a luxury hotel in the historic center of Prague's Old Town, located at 208/34 Karoliny Světlé Street at the mouth of the street on the Smetana Embankment, in an area called the Anenský Triangle.

Description

The hotel is located in the listed buildings of the Palace of the Pachts of Rájov on Anenské náměstí and the New Pacht Palace, also called Jirásek's House.

The Baroque palace is located in the eastern part of the complex and stands on the site of five medieval houses that were joined together in 1765 to the design of architect Jan Josef Wirch (some older sources mention Josef Jäger). The facades on Náprstkova and Stříbrná Streets are devoid of ornamental details. The northern part of the palace is partially covered by the building that has housed the Na zábradlí theater since 1958, and the only visible element is the former main entrance from Anenské náměstí, where the coat of arms is located. In the western wall, in the courtyard of the palace, there is a small fountain with a lion mascot. The south façade with a featured columned portico with a balcony and a passage from which a monumental double staircase leads to the hall.

On the grounds of the original palace garden, which reached down to the Vltava River, an apartment building in the classical style was built in 1836, designed by architect Jan Maxmilián Heger. The four-storey tenement building has a pavilion courtyard facade.

History

During 2003 and 2004, both buildings were extensively renovated by TaK Architects under the supervision of the Národního Památkového Institute with the main aim of restoring both buildings to their original residential function. The renovation created 50 apartments with facilities and services, a reception, restaurant facilities and two accessible courtyards. The hotel was successfully opened under the name Mamaison Suite Hotel Pachtův Palác.

This successful renovation of both buildings was awarded Building of the Year in 2005.

At the beginning of 2015, a protracted dispute with the neighbouring Na Zábradlí Theatre, which since the 1960s had been using the space in the northern part of the Baroque palace as a foyer, the backstage entrance which is crucial for access to the stage, was brought to an end. By roofing its own inner courtyard, the theatre freed the remaining space back to the hotel.

The hotel is currently operated as an independent hotel, The Mozart Prague, and is a member of Preferred Hotels & Resorts, an American brand of independent hotels worldwide.

As in the past, the hotel also serves the general public as a cultural and social center.

Monument protection

Both buildings have been protected as immovable cultural monuments since 1958.

Since 1971 they have been part of the Prague Conservation Area and since 1995 they have been a UNESCO World Heritage Site as part of the historic centre of Prague.