House at the Two Golden Bears
| House at the Two Golden Bears | |
|---|---|
Dům U Dvou zlatých medvědů | |
 | |
 | |
| General information | |
| Address | Kožná 475/1, Prague 1, 110 00 |
| Town or city | Prague |
| Country | Czech Republic |
| Coordinates | 50°05′10″N 14°25′15″E / 50.0862°N 14.4208°E |
House at the Two Golden Bears (Czech: Dům U Dvou zlatých medvědů) is a historic house in the Old Town area of Prague, Czech Republic. It is located in an alley off of Melantrichova Street in the Old Town.
History[edit]
The first mention of the house is from the year 1403, when the house originated from two Gothic houses and a brewery. Gothic architecture remnants are found in the ground floor and basement.[1][2] The house was rebuilt into the Renaissance style in two stages, before 1567 and before 1600.[3] The house was enlarged during the Baroque reconstruction at the end of the 17th century. The third floor was added after 1726.[1]
There are corridors underground that go from the basement of the house to Church of Our Lady before Týn and the Old Town Hall.[2]
The house has a portal doorway which was built onto the house in 1590.[3] The owner, Lorenc Stork, hired Bonifaz Wohlmut to design it. The doorway has two bears on it.[3][4] The house has an remarkable Renaissance arcades and a portal.[3][1]
In the mid-16th century, the house was owned by Jan Kosořský z Kosoře, famous for having printed the then-largest Czech book, the Münster Cosmography (1554).[1] Writer and journalist Egon Erwin Kisch was born in the house,[3] at the house is placed a plaque with his portrait.
Today, the building is owned by the Prague City Museum.[2]
References[edit]
- ^ a b c d "Dům U dvou zlatých medvědů". Hrady.cz (in Czech). Retrieved 15 May 2015.
- ^ a b c Muller, Martin. "House at the Two Golden Bears in Prague". Prague.CZ. cestovni agentura. Retrieved 16 June 2013.
- ^ a b c d e Turp, Craig (2012). DK Eyewitness Travel Guide: Prague. London: DK Travel. ISBN 0756683998.
- ^ Stephen Brook (2010). Prague and the Czech Republic. National Geographic Society. p. 112. ISBN 978-1-4262-0635-1. Retrieved 15 June 2013.