The House of the Black Madonna: What It’s Like Visiting Prague’s Most Legendary Cubist Building

Since moving to Prague from the United States, I’ve become really interested in architecture and discovering all the different architectural styles in Prague. 

This post may contain affiliate links, which means I’ll receive a commission if you make a purchase through my link, at no extra cost to you. All opinions are my own!

Table of Contents:

Background & history of Prague

Prague is the capital city of the Czech Republic, formerly Czechoslovakia, Bohemia (part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire), Kingdom of Bohemia… you get the point. Due to Prague’s long history being part of numerous different names, the culture (and thereby the architecture) is a unique melting pot.

Prague’s main architectural development was during the Middle Ages when the city was the capital of Bohemia. During this time, the iconic Prague Castle, Old Town Square, and Charles Bridge were built, amongst many other notable structures. In the 20th century, Czechoslovakia was involved in both World Wars but fortunately was not damaged nearly as much as other nearby cities. This means the architecture is incredibly well preserved… lucky us!

Types of architecture you can find in Prague

There are truly an abundance of architectural styles you can find in Prague. From the more common ones like baroque and gothic to the ones you need to search to find like historicism and cubism… Prague truly has it all. 

Plus, the city’s history being under Communist rule until 1992 also has an impact on its architecture, adding a unique flare of high-tech and brutalism. Some of my other favorite styles you can find in Prague are romanesque, neo-Renaissance, and deconstructivism.

I actually have two posts on my Instagram showing Prague’s main types of architecture and exactly where to find each style. Check out part 1 and part 2!

What is cubism?

In this article I am specifically going to tell you about Prague’s most iconic cubist building, the House of the Black Madonna. Cubism is an art and architectural movement that began in Paris in the early 20th century Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque. The art style rejects the single-viewpoint perspective and embraces interlocking geometric shapes. 

When it comes to architecture, cubism is characterized by geometric shapes and spatial ambiguity, allowing the viewer to question their expectations of structure. An initial challenge of cubism was finding furniture that fit into the unusual dimensions of cubist rooms, which led to the development of cubist furniture. Cubism is thought to defy tradition of what buildings are “supposed” to look like, thereby rebelling against societal expectations.

What is the House of the Black Madonna?

The House of the Black Madonna is the earliest and arguably the best example of cubist architecture in Prague. Designed by Josef Gočár as a department store in 1911, the building is named after a Baroque Black Madonna statue attached to its corner, a remnant of an earlier building on the site. 

Eventually the building became a site for offices. In 1994, it was renovated and made a center for Czech art and culture, and in 2003, was made the home of the Museum of Czech Cubism, operated by the Prague Museum of Decorative Arts.

Today it houses the Museum of Czech Cubism and two cafes: Černá Madona Celetná and the iconic Grand Café Orient, the world’s only cubist cafe. The latter cafe was part of the original building but closed in the 1920s, only to reopen about 80 years later!

Where is the House of the Black Madonna?

The House of the Black Madonna is located in Staré Město (Old Town) in Prague. Located at the corner of Ovocný trh and Celetna Street (one of Old Town’s oldest and most important streets), the House of the Black Madonna is conveniently located in the city center. The exact address is: Ovocný trh 569/19, 110 00 Staré Město, Czechia, but of course you can just type ‘House of the Black Madonna’ into Google Maps or Apple Maps.

How to get to the House of the Black Madonna?

Since the House of the Black Madonna is located in Prague’s Old Town, it’s in a very walkable, pedestrian-friendly area. However, if you’re not within walking distance, Bolt (Europe’s Uber alternative) is an option or taking Prague’s highly functional public transportation system by getting on the A metro line (the green one) and getting off at the stop called Muzeum.

What to do at the House of the Black Madonna?

One of the main things to do at the House of the Black Madonna is just observing the exterior and interior of the building itself. You can’t miss the stairwell! Once you’ve done that, though, the main things to do at the House of the Black Madonna are to visit the Grand Café Orient and the Museum of Czech Cubism.

As I mentioned, there is also another restaurant at the House of the Black Madonna called Černá Madona Celetná. However, Černá Madona Celetná (on the ground floor) is a pretty normal cafe, while Grand Café Orient (on the first floor) is the world’s only cubist cafe, meaning it has original cubist architecture decor and even a cubist cake! The food and drinks menu is also quite extensive.

To immerse yourself even further in cubism you should visit the Museum of Czech Cubism which costs 150 CZK or a little over $6 USD for a ticket. The museum isn’t huge but it’s a few floors showcasing cubist furniture, photos, artwork and more. In my opinion it’s definitely worth a visit. 

What else to do near the House of the Black Madonna?

Since the House of the Black Madonna is located so centrally in Prague there is a lot to do nearby – perfect for your travel itinerary! Some of my favorite touristy things to do in Prague’s Old Town are visiting Old Town Square (of course), shopping on Václavské náměstí, and walking across Charles Bridge. 

If you’re looking for more specifics, I highly recommend the Museum of Communism and the Mucha Museum, as well as taking a tour of the Klemintinum, a historical building which hosts the Czech National Library including the stunning Baroque library hall.

—

That’s everything you need to know about visiting Prague’s legendary cubist building, the House of the Black Madonna!

11 Super Authentic Czech Foods to Try in Prague

Here’s Precisely How to Spend 3 Days in Prague This Spring

Rainy Day in Prague? Here Are 15 Dry Activities (From an American Living in Prague)

16 Best FREE Things To Do in Prague (Plus Insights From A Local)