House of the Black Madonna
National Park Prague Cubist building housing the Museum of Czech Cubism
Prague’s Cubist landmark contains the Museum of Czech Cubism and the Grand Café Orient; visitors study angular façades, period interiors and the building’s rare applied Cubist architecture while grabbing coffee in the historic café.
The House of the Black Madonna is a notable cubist building in Prague, designed by Josef Gočár and completed in 1912. It is widely cited as a leading example of Czech cubist architecture.
The building is visited for its exterior cubist architecture and for the museum galleries inside that present cubist applied arts and design. Ground-floor spaces include a café and exhibition areas showcasing period interiors and rotating displays.
Commissioned and built in 1911-1912 by Josef Gočár, the building was conceived as a modern commercial and cultural structure reflecting cubist aesthetics. It has since been adapted to house museum displays focused on Czech cubism and related exhibitions.
Situated in Prague’s historic centre (Prague 1), the building stands within the old town area and is accessible on foot from other central landmarks.
- Architect and date: Designed and built by architect Josef Gočár in 1911-1912 as an early and prominent example of Czech cubist architecture.
What to See #
- Museum of Czech Cubism: A gallery on the upper floors displaying works and objects linked to Czech cubism, including furniture, applied arts and rotating exhibitions on the movement.
How to Get to House of the Black Madonna #
The House of the Black Madonna (Museum of Czech Cubism) is in Prague’s Old Town (Prague 1) and is within easy walking distance of Old Town Square. Nearest metro stations include Můstek (lines A and B) and Staroměstská (line A) - both are a short 5-10 minute walk; from Prague Main Railway Station it’s about a 15-20 minute walk or a short metro/tram ride into the Old Town.
Tips for Visiting House of the Black Madonna #
- Visit early in the day or late afternoon to avoid the biggest Old Town crowds; the building is small so crowds can make it hard to appreciate the interiors.
- Allow only 30-45 minutes for the museum inside - it's compact but focused on Czech Cubism, so plan to combine the stop with other nearby Old Town sites rather than as a long visit.
Best Time to Visit House of the Black Madonna #
Visit the House of the Black Madonna in late spring or early autumn for comfortable weather and smaller crowds; weekdays and morning hours are best for a quiet visit.
Weather & Climate near House of the Black Madonna #
House of the Black Madonna's climate is classified as Cold Semi-Arid - Cold Semi-Arid climate with mild summers (peaking in July) and cold winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from -2°C to 25°C. Moderate rainfall (504 mm/year).
January
January is the coolest month with highs of 3°C and lows of -2°C. Light rainfall and mostly overcast skies.
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February
February is cold with highs of 5°C and lows of -1°C. The driest month with just 21 mm and mostly overcast skies.
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March
March is cold with highs of 9°C and lows of 2°C. Moderate rainfall (31 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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April
April is cold with highs of 14°C and lows of 5°C. Light rainfall and partly cloudy skies.
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May
May is cool with highs of 20°C and lows of 10°C. Moderate rainfall (68 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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June
June is mild with highs of 23°C and lows of 13°C. Moderate rainfall (69 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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July
July is the warmest month with highs of 25°C and lows of 15°C. The wettest month with 74 mm of rain and partly cloudy skies.
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August
August is mild with highs of 25°C and lows of 14°C. Moderate rainfall (65 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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September
September is cool with highs of 20°C and lows of 11°C. Moderate rainfall (39 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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October
October is cool with highs of 14°C and lows of 6°C. Moderate rainfall (30 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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November
November is cold with highs of 7°C and lows of 2°C. Moderate rainfall (31 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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December
December is cold with highs of 4°C and lows of 0°C. Light rainfall and mostly overcast skies.
