The House at the Minute

The House at the Minute (Dům U Minuty) is a captivating building in Prague's Old Town Square, showcasing the beauty of Czech bourgeois Renaissance architecture. Originally built in the 15th century as a late-Gothic house, it was transformed in 1564 into the High Renaissance style. The house is hard to miss, thanks to its elaborate sgraffito decorations added around 1610. These black-and-white ornaments depict Habsburg rulers, Greek mythology, biblical scenes, Renaissance themes, and alchemical symbols. The sgraffito was hidden during a Baroque reconstruction but rediscovered and restored in 1919. Over the centuries, the house has served various purposes. It was once a pharmacy called "At the White Lion," a name inspired by the lion sculpture that still adorns its corner. The current name, "At the Minute," likely comes from its time as a tobacconist shop that sold small pieces of tobacco. From 1889 to 1896, Franz Kafka and his family lived on the second floor, adding to the building's historical significance. Today, the ground floor houses an Italian restaurant. The House at the Minute stands as a protected cultural monument, integrated into the Old Town Hall complex.