National Theatre

Why go

The theatre was built as a stage for Czech-language culture and remains a setting for opera, drama and ballet. Inside, the Neo-Renaissance auditorium, Hynais curtain and art-filled foyers make the building itself part of the experience. A tour can also reach a terrace looking toward Petřín Hill and Prague Castle.

What to look for

• The Neo-Renaissance auditorium frames the stage and Hynais curtain.
• Foyer artworks reflect the artists who shaped the national theatre project.
• A guided-tour terrace looks toward Petřín Hill and Prague Castle.

The full story

The National Theatre grew from a nineteenth-century effort to create an independent Czech stage in Prague. Supporters raised money, and the foundation stone was laid in 1868. After a fire damaged the nearly new building, another public collection helped fund its reconstruction. This history explains why the theatre was treated as a civic project as well as a performance venue. Look at the art in the foyers and at the curtain: decoration here was part of an ambition to express Czech culture in a public building. Architect Josef Schulz's reconstruction joined adjoining structures while retaining a unified exterior. The result faces the Vltava and the view toward Prague Castle. Today the historic theatre is still a working stage, so the best way to understand its interior is through the performance programme or a tour arranged for visitors.

Useful to know

• Choose a performance or a dated building tour if you want to see the interior.
• Check the official programme and tour meeting details before traveling to Národní street.

Your next visit

Estimated · Declared scenario and planning estimates; no live opening, weather, queue or booking service.