This is probable the worst "museum" in Europe. Don't fool yourself by goo reviews, read bad ones. The palace is a mostly a collection of boring family portraits by totally average ordinary painters. All audio guide contains is a self bragging promotion of pretty ordinary noble family with no achievements, other than grabbing their pre-war property while every other more famous family in Europe lost it. Since "museum" is private, all it care is money. They even charge special for "terrace view" on pretty expensive ticket even though you can get exactly the same view down on the free valley. Whole museum has 5 decent paintings, rest are distinctly second class Lobkowicz family portraits, some evidently non authentic and boring interiors, boring pottery and loads of ordinary firearms. Whole enterprise has a distinct appearance of a typical pseudo-cultural tourist attraction.
Posted by
No-Wheresville, USA
166 posts
Totally disagree about Lobkowicz palace. Was just there last week. Obviously the reviewer had no interest in musical history as the price of admission is worth it, if you are into Beethoven and Mozart for a couple of their handwritten edits of music. But if you are not into that, you should pass this up. Although this part of Prague is filled with little gems of shops, eateries, scenery etc, which makes this area very cool.
Posted by
OP
2 posts
Well, if you listen to the audio tour, you get an impression that lobkowicz was the main sponsor and best friend of Beethoven, which is just not true. He was one of the lesser sponsors and only contributed some period of time. This is just an example, how they twisted and gave you an incorrect history. As far as memorabilia, they only have one stand with it and not the most interesting one. You can find similar and better ones in many museums. If you want to see good "family museum" go to Konopiste Castle or Cesky Krumlov.
Posted by
Northern Rockies, British Columbia, Canada
543 posts
I'm certainly no history scholar but was intrigued how they lost their home first to the Nazis then to the Communists. Disagree about it being a "...pseudo-cultural tourist attraction". For better or worse, it tells the story of this particular family and its part of the history of Prague and Prague Castle, We didn't find it to be particularly touristy or cheap. We took in a concert in the hall, toured the Palace and had lunch in the cafeteria and enjoyed the day there.
Posted by
Happy Valley, PA
672 posts
Agree with @Peter. We visited the palace in 2015 and also enjoyed a nice lunch there. Rick interviewed William Lobkowicz in 2012; posted in his "Audio Europe" app under "American Nobleman in Prague". Very interesting from a historical perspective.
Posted by
S.F. Bay Area, CA, United States
1878 posts
My wife and I visited in 2011 and though it was a bit pricey, found it to be a highlight of our visit to Prague. My general impression was that the art was quite good, and the guidebook that I purchased at the palace includes a Velasquez and a couple of Brueghel the Elders. The audio guide tells the story of how the family reclaimed their heritage and their property. They had emigrated to the U.S. and had to reclaim Czech citizenship as I recall. It was a very interesting story. Castle hill goes downhill as you walk back toward central Prague, and the palace is on the way down. Don't walk back up and take the bus back down. Whether or not you visit the palace, want back down to the Prague old town. We passed through a hillside vineyard and enjoyed fabulous views as the sun sank low in the sky.