Saský dům City palace

Saský dům, also known as the House of the Styinec or the Vlasch Court, is a historical monument in the Lesser Side in Prague 1. Originally a Gothic palace from the second half of the 14th century underwent several architectural transformations which include Renaissance and Classicist elements. It is one of the oldest palace houses in Prague and is protected as a cultural monument since 1964.

The creation of the Saxon House dates back to the second half of the 14th century, when it was built as part of a complex called the Saxon Court. The name comes from the first owners, Saxon dukes, who acquired the house in 1348 as a gift of emperor Charles IV. He was owned by the Saxons until 1409. At that time Prague underwent development under the rule of Charles IV, which had a major influence on the formation of the city as a cultural centre.

Architectural Saský dům is a fascinating example of a mixture of Gothic, Renaissance and Classicist elements. From the original building preserved cellars and masonry on the ground floor with broken arcade arches. After the fire in 1503, which destroyed the house and the other six tens of nearby houses, the reconstruction was only started in the Renaissance style for ownership of Trčky from Lipa in 1592. This reconstruction has brought new floors and the grounding of the arcades on the ground floor, as well as the creation of a Renaissance portal, which still resembles this period. The classical form of the house was given by reconstruction between 1826 and 1828.

During his history, Saský dům had several prominent owners who influenced his fate. After the Saxon dukes he went to the hands of Trčky from Lipa and later became part of the inn and cafe owned by V. Steinitz, who then gave the house the name "U Šteinice." During the 19th century the house was instead of meeting Czech national personalities.

Today Saský dům is used as apartments and for both retail and business purposes, which includes travel agencies, food stores and optics. Its location on the Malá Strana near the monuments as the Malostranská Most Tower and the Charles Bridge make the house easily accessible to visitors of Prague.

Saský dům is not only an architectural pearl, but also a witness to rich historical events and changes. Its importance is that it represents a long series of cultural and historical phases that reflect the changes of Prague and the Czech nation. Exploring this palace offers a valuable insight into the past and is a reason for every curious tourist to decide to explore this historical object.