The Unique Way To Experience Prague Castle In Lobkowicz Palace

Experience the House of Lobkowicz for a truly unforgettable visit, where dining comes with a view, and you can explore one of Europe’s oldest and most prestigious private art collections. Add a live classical music performance in a stunning Baroque concert hall, and you’ll discover that this is the most extraordinary way to immerse yourself in the beauty and history of Prague Castle.

A visit to the Prague Castle is a must, but if you’re looking for a way to make the visit less crowded, more intimate, and with undisturbed views, you’ll want to make sure you find the Lobkowicz Palace once you enter.

Lobkowicz Palace, Prague, Czech Republic

The Lobkowicz Palace provides a unique way to experience Prague Castle:

Basic Info
Lobkowicz Palace History
The Princely Collections
A Classical Music Performance To Remember
The Magnificent View of Prague From Prague Castle
An Exquisite Place To Dine

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Basic Info

Address: Jiřská 3, 119 00 Praha 1-Hradčany, Czechia

Directions: The Lobkowicz family owns a number of buildings, so it’s important to find the right one. If you enter the Prague Castle from the main entry as most do, walk through the courtyards and pass St. George Basilica, you’ll start to go downhill. The Lobkowicz Palace is the last building on the right.

Hours: Every day: 10:00am ~ 6:00pm

Admission: Though the Lobkowicz Palace is within the Prague Castle walls, it requires a separate entrance ticket.

Prague Castle Entrance Tickets & Lobkowicz Palace Entrance: Adults: 750CZK; Students 16-26: 550CZK; Children 7-15: 550CZK; Children 0-6: 550CZK
Midday Classical Music Concert: Adults: 550CZK; Students 16-26: 450CZK; Children 7-15: 450CZK; Children 0-6: Free
Lobkowicz Palace & Midday Concert Combo Ticket: Adults: 750CZK; Students 16-26: 650CZK; Children 7-15: 650CZK; Children 0-6: Free

Buy Tickets: You can buy you entrance tickets to Lobkowicz Palace on Klook.

Reserve your seat at the classical music performance on Get Your Guide

Lobkowicz Palace History

Originally known as the Pernstein Palace, Lobkowicz Palace dates back to the 16th century, when it was built by the influential Bohemian nobleman Jaroslav of Pernstein (1528–1569). Its name changed after Jaroslav’s niece, Polyxena (1566–1642), married the 1st Prince Lobkowicz (1568–1628), and for nearly 500 years, it has been known as Lobkowicz Palace.

For centuries, the palace was passed down through generations of Lobkowicz princes. After the fall of the Austro-Hungarian Empire in 1918, and with the abolition of hereditary titles, the 10th Prince’s son, Maximilian, adapted to the changing times.

In a symbolic move, he opened parts of the palace to serve as offices for the new Republic’s Prime Minister, a bold gesture of support for Czechoslovakia’s new democratic direction.

The palace’s history took a darker turn during World War II, when it was confiscated by the Nazis, only to be briefly returned to the family after the war, in 1945. But by 1948, the Communist regime seized it again, leaving the Lobkowicz family without their ancestral home for 40 years. It took another 12 years of legal battles and perseverance before the family could reclaim the palace.

Today, Lobkowicz Palace stands as the only privately owned building within the prestigious Prague Castle complex—the rest is held by the Czech government, including the presidential offices.

An intriguing twist in its modern history involves its current owner, an American citizen. Maximilian Lobkowicz had sent his son Martin (1928–2014) to the US during WWII, while he served in the Czech government-in-exile in London. Martin went on to attend Milton Academy, graduate from Harvard, serve in the Korean War, and eventually marry a woman from Kentucky.

Of their four children, it was William and his wife, Alexandra, who returned to Prague to untangle decades of paperwork and legalities to reclaim the family’s property.

Now, in a remarkable turn of events, William and Alexandra have raised their son—also named William—in Prague, where they’ve restored the family’s legacy, bringing Lobkowicz Palace back under its rightful ownership after nearly a century of upheaval.

The Princely Collections

The Lobkowicz Collection, housed within Lobkowicz Palace, is the largest privately owned art collection in the Czech Republic, offering a rare glimpse into centuries of European history and artistry. The permanent exhibition showcases an array of treasures, from world-renowned paintings to exquisite furniture and musical memorabilia, which was my favorite section to peruse.

The collection boasts masterpieces by the likes of Cranach, Breughel the Elder, Canaletto, and Piranesi, alongside priceless musical scores annotated by none other than Mozart, Beethoven, and Haydn.

The gallery’s collection of musical instruments is equally impressive, with many pieces connected to the talented Lobkowicz princes themselves—most notably, the 7th Prince, Josef Frantisek Maximilian, who was a patron of Beethoven. His support for the composer resulted in a captivating collection of Beethoven’s works, which are proudly on display.

The collection features over 1,500 paintings, with about 100, mostly family portraits, on display in beautifully curated galleries.

Audio Guide: Narrated by William Lobkowicz and his family, the audio guide was so interesting to listen to. Their personal connection to the collection adds a uniquely intimate layer to the tour, making the stories behind these priceless works come alive in a way that no other museum experience can match.

In a room of its own, Bruegel’s Haymaking painting commands attention, standing out against a striking green backdrop. It’s the one everyone looks for as they walk through the spaces.

Equally fascinating are the galleries devoted to whimsical works like paintings of birds adorned with real feathers, and an entire collection dedicated to dogs—a charming and unexpected highlight of the tour. I’ve been to a lot of museums recently, so I quite enjoyed these more quirky parts of the collection.

A Classical Music Performance To Remember

Our absolute favorite part of the experience was a concert and I highly recommend booking the experience. As the musicians take their seats and the first notes fill the air, your gaze inevitably drifts upward to the stunning 17th-century frescoed ceiling, creating an unforgettable sensory experience.

When I saw the chance to add this to our Prague itinerary, I didn’t hesitate—how often do you get to enjoy world-class music in such a breathtaking historical setting?

The concert program is a tribute to the greats: Baroque masters like Bach and Vivaldi, classical icons Mozart and Beethoven, and Czech legends Dvořák and Smetana. We saw an accomplished trio of musicians, playing violin, cello, and piano, bring these timeless works to life.

For music lovers, it’s a moving experience, enhanced by the intimate atmosphere of the beautifully adorned Baroque concert hall. As I sat there, I couldn’t help but wonder if this is how people in centuries past enjoyed music within these walls. I hope they did, because it was quite the setting.

The hall’s excellent acoustics and intimate size, with only 100 seats, ensure that no matter where you sit, you’ll be immersed in the music—every note resonating, every seat the perfect one.

The Magnificent View of Prague From Prague Castle

While most tourists flock to the well-known overlook at Prague Castle for sweeping views of the city, those in the know head to Lobkowicz Palace for a more exclusive, picturesque vantage point. Just before you reach the Baroque Concert Hall, there’s a veranda that offers a breathtaking, unobstructed panorama of Prague’s rooftops and spires.

For an even more relaxed experience, you can enjoy this stunning view from the palace café, where you can sip coffee while soaking in the beauty of the city below—truly the perfect way to take in Prague like royalty.

An Exquisite Place To Dine

There is a restaurant and cafe that serves homemade Czech and international cuisine. For our experience, we were in a private room and absolutely enjoyed our meal made up of a mixed green salad, Czech goulash dumplings, and homemade cheesecake with wild berry sauce.

If you’re looking for some place to eat in or near Prague Castle, just stay right there and find the Lombowicz Palace because it’s worth it.

There are a lot of ways to enjoy Prague Castle, a must see in Prague to be sure, but I think adding a stop into Lobkowicz Palace is really the best way to soak in the ambiance and enjoy the visit in a slower and peaceful way.

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