Lucerna Palace (Czech: ''Palác Lucerna'') is an entertainment and shopping complex in the New Town quarter of

Prague Prague ( ; cs, Praha ; german: Prag, ; la, Praga) is the capital and List of cities in the Czech Republic, largest city in the Czech Republic, and the historical capital of Bohemia. On the Vltava river, Prague is home to about 1.3 milli ...

, Czechia. In 2017, it was named a national cultural monument.

Design and construction

The building, nestled between Štěpánská and Vodičkova streets, was constructed between 1907 and 1921, based on a design by Stanislav Bechyně. The work was carried out by Vácslav Havel (grandfather of former President of the Czech Republic

Václav Havel Václav Havel (; 5 October 193618 December 2011) was a Czech statesman, author, poet, playwright, and former dissident. Havel served as the last president of Czechoslovakia from 1989 until the dissolution of Czechoslovakia in 1992 and then ...

). Originally intended to serve as a hockey stadium, it was reworked into a large social hall as the dimensions were soon found to be unsuited for its initial planned purpose. At the time, it was unique due to being one of the first reinforced concrete buildings in Prague. The edifice bears significant features of the waning Art Nouveau style and the emerging

Modernism Modernism is both a philosophy, philosophical and arts movement that arose from broad transformations in Western world, Western society during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The movement reflected a desire for the creation of new fo ...

. In addition to its Great Hall, the complex also houses the Marble Hall, the Lucerna Music Bar, a movie theatre, a café, and a prominent

pedestrian walkway A sidewalk (North American English), pavement (British English), footpath in Australia, India, New Zealand and Ireland, or footway, is a path along the side of a street, highway, terminals. Usually constructed of concrete, pavers, brick, stone ...

, or "passage", connecting Štěpánská to Vodičkova street.

Uses

From its inauguration until the present day, Lucerna has been an important cultural and social centre of the national capital, both in the former Czechoslovakia and the Czechia, hosting concerts, balls, conferences, fashion shows, and sporting events. Over time, some of the most prominent local and international artists have performed at the venue. After the

Velvet Revolution The Velvet Revolution ( cs, Sametová revoluce) or Gentle Revolution ( sk, Nežná revolúcia) was a non-violent transition of power in what was then Czechoslovakia, occurring from 17 November to 28 November 1989. Popular demonstrations agains ...

of 1989, Lucerna Palace was returned in restitution to the Havel family and is now owned by Václav Havel's widow,

Dagmar Havlová Dagmar Havlová (born Dagmar Veškrnová on 22 March 1953) is a Czech actress. She married Václav Havel, the former Czech President, on 4 January 1997. She has one daughter, Nina Veškrnová (born 1976), from a previous marriage to Radvít Nov ...

National cultural monument

The complex has been listed as a heritage monument since 1976. In 2017, it was named a national cultural monument.

Trivia

Lucerna is one of twenty-six buildings in Prague with a functional

paternoster lift A paternoster (, , or ) or paternoster lift is a passenger elevator which consists of a chain of open compartments (each usually designed for two people) that move slowly in a loop up and down inside a building without stopping. Passengers can ...

Gallery

Lucerna (1).jpg, View from Vodičkova street Štěpánská, Lucerna, pasáž.jpg, Entrance to Lucerna Music Bar from Štěpánská street Lucerna (3).jpg, Cinema entrance Cerný Wenceslas.JPG,

David Černý David Černý (born 15 December 1967) is a Czech sculptor. His works can be mainly seen in many locations in Prague. Early life Černý was born in Prague, Czechoslovakia. From 1988 to 1994 he studied at the Kurt Gebauer Studio at the Academy ...

's statue ''Kůň'' Velký sál Lucerny, duben 2013.jpg, Great Hall Štursova busta Vácslava Havla - Lucerna P1072059.jpg, Bust of Lucerna founder Vácslav Havel by

Jan Štursa Jan Josef Štursa (15 May 1880 in Nové Město na Moravě – 2 May 1925 in Prague) was a Czech sculptor, one of founders of modern Czech sculpture. Birth and studies Štursa was born in mountainous area of Vysočina Region. He studied masonry ...

References

External links

*
Lucerna Palace Great Hall official website

Lucerna Music Bar official website
{{Authority control National Cultural Monuments of the Czech Republic Culture in Prague Tourist attractions in Prague 1921 establishments in Czechoslovakia Houses in the Czech Republic Art Nouveau architecture in Prague Art Nouveau houses Modernist architecture in the Czech Republic Concert halls in the Czech Republic Prague 1