Address written by history

VII HOUSE first appears in historical archives in the second half of the 16th century, after the Great Fire of Lesser Town. VII HOUSE stands approximately on the spot of the oldest Prague brewery, which belonged to the monks of the Augustinian order. The wooden brewery was built in the year 1358 and produced a celebrated dark beer, with which the entire left bank of the Vltava was supplied.

During its history, VII HOUSE was connected several times to the neighbouring house, the Three Storks. One of the famous family lines to which today’s VII HOUSE once belonged was the line of Count Herman Cernin of Chudenice, one of the wealthiest and most renowned nobles in the Czech Kingdom.

In the years prior to the Battle of White Hill, the Czech nobleman and politician, Vaclav Vilem of Roupov, also owned the house. Vilem was one of the prominent leaders of the Bohemian Revolt in 1618. After the battle, he fled the country and his property was confiscated.

Subsequently, Albrecht von Wallenstein acquired part of the eastern wing of the present-day VII HOUSE. At that time he managed to buy approximately 25 houses, which were demolished in order to provide the space for his magnificent palace and a new town square. The square formed the stage for the majestic facade of his new residence.

Land Bestowed by the King

King Charles IV gave land in the area of today’s Wallenstein Square to the Augustinian Order at St. Thomas Church. Shortly afterwards, in the location of the present-day VII House, the Augustinian monks established a brewery that made the outstanding, dark St. Thomas beer.

Malá Strana Rises from the Ashes

During the Great Fire of Malá Strana, in which the majority of the quarter was destroyed, the Augustinian Monastery burned down, along with other buildings in the area including the acclaimed brewery. However, these desirable plots of land didn’t remain vacant for long and however. At by the end of the 16th century, town houses in the Renaissance style began to be built here.

Historical reference 450 years ago

The first historical reference to a building that was constructed approximately on the location of the former brewery. After the middle of the 16th century, three houses stood on the site of today’s VII House - the Schmidgrobner house, the Roupov house and the Wenger house. The building with house number 7 was connected several times during its history to the neighbouring house, the Three Storks.

In the Vicinity of the Palace

At the beginning of the 17th century, areas such as Malá Strana and Hradčany (Prague Castle area) became desirable locations for building genteel palaces with beautiful gardens. The homes were built adjacent to one another on the land of the medieval houses. These aristocratic mansions gave the Lesser Town its character as a residential quarter.

Introduced into Society

In the time of Rudolf II, the corner house was purchased by the wife of Count Herman Cernin of Chudenice, Marie Anna Caslavova. She connected it with the neighbouring house and had both houses extensively reconstructed and enlarged. Count Cernin, known as “The Little Turk”, was a politician and renowned diplomat. He made trips to the Holy Land and even served as the Emperor’s ambassador on trips to meet the Turkish sultan.

Home of a Prominent Czech Lord

The house was acquired by Vaclav Vilem of Roupov, who belonged to the ancient, multi-branched line of the Lords of Roupov. He was a member of the Unity of Brethren, studied in Italy and Switzerland and acquired an extensive education, for that time. He was intelligent, judicious and both a talented speaker and skillful politician. He was one of the prominent leaders of the Bohemian Revolt. After the Battle of White Mountain, his home was confiscated.

A Powerful Neighbour and a New Square

Through skillful purchases of confiscated property in the period after the Battle of White Mountain, Albrecht von Wallenstein procured and demolished more than twenty buildings, the old Pisek Gate, the brickyard and several gardens. He had a magnificent mansion built, which was intended to represent his power, fame, and wealth. Today his palace houses the Senate of the Czech Republic.

Large-scale Reconstruction

The house acquired its current neoclassical style during a fundamental renovation according to the plans of court builder and renowned Prague architect Josef Zobel. Zobel’s signature style can also be observed at the Hybernia House and the Vrtbovský Palace.