The National Gallery

The National Gallery Prague is one of the most important cultural institutions in the Czech Republic, and administers the republic's largest collection of fine art. Its history began in 1796 when a group of patriotic Czech noblemen and educated citizens decided to heighten the local inhabitants' esthetic appreciation of art, and thus founded the Academy of Fine Arts as well as a picture gallery accessible to the general public which was the direct predecessor of today's National Gallery. In the National Gallery collections you will find Czech art from the Middle Ages up to the present day, as well as artifacts from the ancient Greek and Roman periods. Its buildings are accessible to the public and include the Convent of St. Agnes of Bohemia with its exhibitions of medieval and early Renaissance art, the Sternberg Palace exhibiting European art from antiquity until the Baroque period, the Schwarzenberg Palace focusing on Baroque art, the Kinsky Palace dedicated to short-term exhibitions, and the Trade Fair Palace displaying art from the 19th, 20th, and 21st centuries, and others. The buildings of the National Gallery Prague, which are often unique architectural gems in and of themselves, and their permanent exhibitions, are presented individually here. Besides descriptions of the permanent exhibitions, you will find complete contact information and maps in each building's description, as well as professional photographs to give you an idea of what you will see in each of these renowned Prague art galleries.