Prague National Theatre (Národní divadlo): History and Photos

The National Theatre (Národní divadlo) stands on the Vltava embankment at the end of Národní Street, beside the Legion Bridge. With its golden roof and richly decorated facade it is one of the finest pieces of architecture in Prague, and for Czechs it is much more than a theatre: it is a symbol of the national revival of the 19th century.

History

The theatre was built between 1868 and 1881 to a Neo-Renaissance design by the architect Josef Zítek. It was paid for largely by donations collected from people all over the Czech lands, which is why the motto “Národ sobě” – “The Nation to Itself” – is written above the stage.

It opened in June 1881 with the premiere of Bedřich Smetana’s festive opera Libuše, which had been composed for the occasion. Only a couple of months later, after just a handful of performances, a fire destroyed the roof, the auditorium and the stage. A new public collection raised the money for rebuilding within weeks. Josef Schulz, a pupil of Zítek, led the reconstruction, and the theatre reopened in November 1883, again with Libuše.

What to See

• The facade and roof – the loggia with statues, the bronze three-horse chariots (trigas) on the corner pylons and the gilded roof crown.
• The interior – paintings and sculpture by the leading Czech artists of the time, often called the “generation of the National Theatre”. The best way to see it is to buy a ticket for an opera, ballet or drama performance.
• The New Stage (Nová scéna) – the glass-block building next door, added in the 1980s, a striking contrast to the historical theatre.

For the programme, tickets and guided tours, check the theatre’s official website.

How to Get There

Trams stop right in front of the building at Národní divadlo. The nearest metro station is Národní třída (line B), about five minutes on foot.

Photographing the National Theatre

It has a beautiful, picturesque facade, and there are several good angles on it.

• From the Legion Bridge (most Legií) – the classic view of the theatre above the river. In the late afternoon and evening the sun lights the river facade and the golden roof glows.
• From Střelecký Island below the bridge – the theatre reflected in the water, with swans in the foreground.
• From the opposite bank near Kampa – use a longer lens to compress the theatre with the embankment buildings.
• Blue hour – the building is lit after sunset and the trams passing in front make good light trails.

The junction in front of the theatre is busy all day, so for clean street-level pictures come early on a weekend morning.

Planning more stops in the city? Browse more Prague guides for other places worth visiting and photographing.

Proposing at the National Theatre

The National Theatre is a beautiful backdrop, but the building itself is not the place to kneel. The pavement in front is a busy tram junction, and proposing inside during a performance would disturb other guests. The best approach is to use the views of the theatre from the river.

• Is it a good place to propose? Yes, as a backdrop seen from the Legion Bridge or Střelecký Island. Not in front of the entrance or inside the auditorium.
• Best time: late afternoon and evening, when the sun lights the river facade and the golden roof glows. Blue hour is lovely too, once the building is lit.
• Permits and rules: a private proposal on a public bridge or embankment needs no permit. Inside the theatre, photography and anything planned must follow the theatre’s own rules, so ask the theatre first. Drone flights over central Prague are restricted.
• Crowds: the junction and the bridge are busy all day. Early weekend mornings are the calmest.
• A quieter alternative: Střelecký Island, below the Legion Bridge, has paths and lawns by the water with the theatre reflected in the river.
• Where the photographer can wait: on the Legion Bridge looking down to the island, or across the river near Kampa with a longer lens.

Comparing places? See our guide to the best places to propose in Prague.