The Kinský Palace, a prominent landmark on Prague’s Old Town Square, will not host any exhibitions in 2025 as it undergoes a comprehensive renovation project valued at 60 million CZK. The reconstruction will be financed by a subsidy from the Czech Ministry of Culture, according to National Gallery Prague (NGP) spokesperson Jana Holcová.
Originally intended to focus solely on installing a barrier-free entrance, the scope of the project has expanded significantly. Planned improvements now include the renovation of two entrance portals, new flooring, modernized heating and electrical systems, window replacements, and the installation of a state-of-the-art elevator to enhance accessibility. Renovation efforts will primarily target the exhibition halls on the building’s second and third floors.
In preparation for the closure, the palace’s bookstore ceased operations on June 1. Staff and furnishings are being relocated, with some employees temporarily reassigned to the Veletržní Palace and other NGP venues. A limited number of personnel will remain at the site during the renovation process.
Constructed between 1755 and 1765, the Kinský Palace—initially named the Golz-Kinsky Palace—was built atop Romanesque and Gothic foundations. The building is known for its symmetrical roofline and sculpted Baroque façade, making it a defining feature of the square. Though once attributed to architect Kilián Ignác Dientzenhofer, modern scholarship credits Anselmo Lurago with its design and execution.
In addition to the palace restoration, the NGP is moving forward with a larger infrastructure initiative: the construction of a new depository in Jinonice, near the Nové Butovice metro station. The project, supported by 2.2 billion CZK from the Ministry of Culture, aims to ease storage demands at the Veletržní Palace and enable its future modernization. Holcová confirmed that the tender documentation for the depository is expected to be completed this year, with contractor selection to follow.
Elsewhere, the NGP is preparing for the launch of a new permanent exhibition, Art of Asia Across Space and Time, at Salmovský Palace. Initially slated to open in late April, the exhibition’s debut has been postponed to October 17 due to logistical and curatorial delays.
