page_title: Embassy of Poland, Prague
section_title: The Embassy
hierarchical_section_title: Embassy of Poland, Prague / The Embassy
caption_attribution_description: Čeština: Malý Fürstenberský palác
context_page_description: The Embassy of Poland in Prague is the diplomatic mission of the Republic of Poland to the Czech Republic. The chancery is located at ul. Valdštejnská 8, Prague.
context_section_description: The Polish embassy today finds itself situated in a building which was once the private residence of the noble, Berků of Dubá. The palace was originally built in a late renaissance style, reflecting the most popular architectural elements of the time. However, in 1600 the palace was restyled into a baroque form. Enlarged in 1714, the palace was then again redesigned to incorporate the most modern and elaborate elements of high baroque. 
  In 1822 the palace was bought by the Fürstenberg family who set about completely rebuilding it. The palace was both enlarged and restyled internally, and its garden was redesigned and enlarged so that it would provide better views of Prague Castle directly to the north. It was during these days that the palace came to be known as the Fürstenberg Palace and became known for its lavish receptions. Unfortunately the palace was not to continue its existence as a grand residence for the nobles of the Habsburg lands and soon became a warehouse for the goods of the family business, Fürstenbergských železárny. The building's ultimate saviour came to be the Polish government, who in 1919 purchased the building from the Fürstenbergs for it to become the new permanent seat of the country's legation to Czechoslovakia and since 1994 the Czech Republic.
  The building, which is covered with a mansard roof has a number of extremely interesting architectural features. The palace itself is surrounded on three sides by buildings which were eventually, over the years annexed to expand the floor plan of the palace, however on its one open side it is entered through a large monumental entrance surrounded by stuccoed wall decorations and surmounted by the personal coat of arms of Berků of Dubá, the palace's original occupant. Near to this, the original and recently restored official plaque of the Polish Republic is still affixed to the wall of the palace. Additional elements of the palace's design include its long garden, bordered by an elaborate wrought iron screen fence and enhanced within by the addition in the late 19th century of a small fountain. It is from a mast within this garden that the state flag of the Polish Republic now flies.
  Internally the palace is characterised by a more baroque styling, which includes a monumental stone staircase which extends from the grand reception hall into the first floor of the palace. The hall itself is decorated with ornamental plaster, stuccos and a large ceiling painting of Polypodiaceae's triumph by a range of unknown artists from the 18th century.
caption: The Polish Embassy Chancery building on ul. Valdštejnská, Prague
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