Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart visited Prague several times between 1787 and 1791, and the city loved him. “My Praguers understand me,” he is famously supposed to have said. Several of the places connected with his visits can still be found today, and they make a pleasant short walk for anyone interested in music history.
At the Golden Unicorn (Malá Strana)
The house At the Golden Unicorn (U Zlatého jednorožce) stands in Lázeňská Street in Malá Strana, a few steps from Charles Bridge and the Maltese Square. In the 18th century this Baroque building was a popular inn. Mozart stayed here in 1789, and Ludwig van Beethoven in 1796.
A memorial plaque by the sculptor Otakar Španiel on the facade remembers the second of these guests. Its inscription says that the famous composer Ludwig van Beethoven lived here, at the Inn of the Golden Unicorn, in February 1796. The plaque was unveiled in 1927 to mark the centenary of the composer’s death. Because of it the building is also known as the Beethoven Palace.
Other Mozart Places in Prague
- The Estates Theatre (Stavovské divadlo) in the Old Town – Mozart himself conducted the first performance of Don Giovanni here in October 1787. The theatre still stages his operas.
- Villa Bertramka in the Smíchov district – the home of his friends, the Dušek family, where Mozart was a guest and where he is said to have finished Don Giovanni. Check current information before you go, as access to the villa has varied over the years.
- The house At the Three Golden Lions on Uhelný trh in the Old Town, where he lodged in 1787; a plaque marks the building.
How to Get There
The Golden Unicorn is easiest to reach on foot: cross Charles Bridge towards Malá Strana and turn left into Lázeňská Street just after the bridge towers. The nearest tram stop is Malostranské náměstí and the nearest metro station is Malostranská (line A). The Estates Theatre is a short walk from Můstek metro station.
Photographing the Mozart Sites
Lázeňská is a narrow street, so the facade of the Golden Unicorn is in shade for most of the day. That is not a problem: soft, even light is ideal for the details of the facade and the plaque. Use a wide lens for the whole building and a short telephoto for the plaque.
- Come early in the morning. This corner of Malá Strana is quiet until the crowds start crossing Charles Bridge.
- The Estates Theatre has an elegant pale green Neoclassical facade. It photographs best in the morning and when it is lit after dark.
- Combine the walk with Maltese Square and Kampa Island, both only a few minutes away and full of good backgrounds.
Planning more stops in the city? Browse more Prague guides for other places worth visiting and photographing.
