Lobkowicz Palace: Where history and nobility come alive

While in the Czech Republic we took a tour the Lobkowicz Palace at Prague Castle, which is the oldest, largest and most intact private art collection in the Czech Republic. The collection represents twenty two beautifully appointed galleries that contain all the aspects of culture and nobility of Central Europe over six centuries.

With the passage of restitution laws in the 1990s, the Lobkowicz family was able to reunite most of their collection of paintings, ceramics and armor that were confiscated and harbored by the Nazi’s during WWII. Today the collection is available for public view. Ironically, we just watched the film “Woman in Gold” on the flight home from Prague and it mirrored the story of a family re-claiming the art that was rightfully once theirs.

The Lobkowicz collection showcases world famous paintings by Brueghel, Canaletto, Bellotto, Cranach, Rubens, Veronese and more. In addition, it contains the finest private library in Central Europe and an incomparable collection of musical instruments and autographed manuscripts by many of the eighteenth and early nineteenth century musicians. During the tour I was elated to see manuscripts of two of my favorite composers, Beethoven and Mozart. A rather noteworthy tidbit I learned is that the Lobkowicz family made it possible through funding for Beethoven to compose his most famous Symphony #5. Thanks to the family, we can enjoy this incredible composition for centuries to come. Throughout my trip to Czech Republic, I was able to stand where Mozart conducted in person (Estate Theatre), view a manuscript written in Mozart’s own handwriting (Lobkowicz Palace) and stayed in the Mozart suite at the Aria Hotel, where I enjoyed the lap of luxury for a night. I feel honored to have basked in the history of such unparalleled talent.

After our tour of the Lobkowicz collection, we had a delightful lunch in the Palace café and perused the Palace museum shop where they offer a rich assortment of reproductions and adaptations from the Lobkowicz collection, as well as souvenirs of Prague and the Prague Castle.

The conclusion of our Lobkowicz Palace visit, was a midday concert on the first floor performed by a trio of talented female musicians. Sitting and listening to classical pieces by Beethoven, Bach, Mozart and more in the very setting the most likely played host to many of the great composers of history, was thrilling to say the least. Watching the three-piece chamber orchestra (piano, flute and violin) you could tell the musicians played with passion and pride, which emanated into the audience, which my heart swell.

The Lobkowicz Palace is the only private palace left in the Prague Castle, where members of the family, Alexandra, William and three children still reside. An enchanting place you must see on one of your stops when visiting the Czech Republic capital of Prague.