Prague historic VIP lounges open their doors to the public

Rulers, emperors, presidents, movie stars and other prominent personalities all enjoyed the splendour and comfort of these majestic lounges in the railway stations when they were travelling by train. These are magical places, where the glamor of the past still breathes today, where you feel like you are a character in a black and white movie. This is the last opportunity of the year to see these gems of Prague before they close their doors to the public eye once again - the Government Lounge at Hlavní nádraží (Central Station) and the Imperial Lounge at Masarykovo nádraží.

President Masaryk’s Lounge

We warmly invite you to the lounge in the very first railway station in the Czech capital, at Masarykovo nádraží. This lounge was created in the years 1873 - 1874, for the honeymoon of Franz Joseph I and the Empress Elizabeth of Austria called Sisi, that passed through Prague. However, after the fall of Austro-Hungarian Empire, the lounge was cleared of all traces of the monarchy and closed.

It was later adapted for the needs of the President of the new Republic who used to depart from here for tours in his personal railway carriage. The carved fireplace, door handles, chandelier, richly decorated beams, gilded ceiling and antique furniture are all original, and remind us of President Masaryk. At the time, the walls were decorated with wallpaper imported from Paris, a motif of a stylized Czech lion, and Venetian mirrors from Belgium. Unfortunately, none of that has survived.

Reopening in 2008

The lounge was closed for many years. The reconstruction and the subsequent reopening took place in 2008. Do not miss the opportunity to visit this architectural gem, where the busts of President T. Masaryk and of Jan Perner - the railway builder - are now in place. 

If you have time for another visit, do not miss the opportunity to see the Government Lounge in the art nouveau style at Praha hlavní nádraží, the most majestic railway station lounge in the Czech Republic.

Guided tours

Guided tours begin every hour from 10am to 4pm, and last about 20 minutes. Guided tours of the Government Lounge in English begin at 1:30pm and 2:30pm.

Souvenirs, postcards and tourist cards are sold on the spot. Prints of commemorative postmark are also available.

INFORMATION ABOUT THE EVENT

29/12/2018 from 10am to 5pm

Venues:

• Imperial Lounge/President Masaryk’s Lounge: Masarykovo nádraží,

             Havlíčkova 1014/2, 110 00 Nové Město