Object history
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The history of Prague was written here

Going for a walk along the hills under Prague castle, the impressive Malá Strana area, is like travelling through time. Prague offers you scenery practically identical to the late 18th century here. You can admire the Baroque palaces, old houses with historic features and the centre of Malostranské square (Malá Strana square). Its dominant feature is the Church of Saint Nicholas and what once was a Jesuit professor building, the basement (1st underground floor) of which today is the home of the stylish Profesní dům restaurant.

A place to meet socially with some good food and drink

Prague Profesni dum restaurant is just a small part of a complex of noteworthy and historically valuable rooms in which murals, Stucco and a number of Baroque and Rococo architectonic elements have been preserved. If you come here during a walk through Prague, we recommend that you try Jesuit dream soup and for the next course Malostranské medallions, Old Czech roast pork or beef sirloin with cream sauce. You can have a nice cool Pilsner beer.

If you don't want to be served and just enjoy the unmissable atmosphere in peace...

 

Traditional education centre

At the location of the current university building originally stood a row of residential houses together with the little chapel of Saint Wenceslas and the Malá Strana town hall. In close proximity was the Gothic parish church of Saint Nicholas, a cemetery and a rectory with a school.

This entire area became owned by the Society of Jesus in the 1620s.

In 1673 the foundation stone was placed for the new Church of Saint Nicholas, and a year later the foundations of the headquarters of members of the Order of Jesuits began being built. The early Baroque building was created according to the plans of G. D. Orsi, who was in charge of the whole construction until he died. Afterwards, in 1691, the construction was finished by the architect F. Lurago.

Jesuit scholars and professors, who lived there, deserve credit for the creation of schools at Malá Strana, Prague, and at their library they administered prominent works in the fields of mathematics, astronomy and other natural sciences.

In the mid-18th century, the west wing was renovated in a peak Baroque style. However, the building underwent fundamental changes to its interior and extensor facades after the Order of Jesuits was abolished in 1773, when it began to be used for administrative purposes. It has had Baroque and Classical renovations, in particular the internal renovations in 1823.

In the 19th century it was the seat of the top court in the country, and during the First Republic a hall was created here for the central national treasury according to the plans of A. Špalek. In the 1960s, the Mathematics-Physics Faculty of Charles University took over administration of the building. 

In 2000 there was a major renovation done here, leading to the opening of a Conference and social centre for concerts, proms, graduations and other celebratory events, which Profesní dům restaurant is in a perfect location for.