Obecní Dum (Municipal House)

This striking Art Nouveau structure stands as a testament to the optimism and opulence that swept over the city in the early 20th century. Finished in 1912, the cultural center on the grounds of the King’s Court is an elaborate ode to the country’s new promise by the era’s most noted painters and architects. Its concert halls and grand dining rooms and café were designed to encourage public gatherings.

The interior, refurbished in the 1990s, features sculptures by Ladislav Saloun, paintings by Alphonse Mucha and frescoes by Karel Spillar. If you can attend a concert in the Smetana Concert Hall, do so. Don’t miss the Hall of the Lord Mayor with paintings by Mucha. The café, too, has been meticulously restored to all of its Art Nouveau glory and is filled with well-dressed Czechs from breakfast to late night.

Tip: Ask to purchase one of the Municipal Building’s maps when you get your tickets; they are the city’s most comprehensible street maps.