The Prague Belvedere: Imperial Lusthaus of Ferdinand I

The Belvedere is a monumental testament to the humanist vision of Ferdinand I, who served as the Archduke of Austria, King of Bohemia and Hungary, and Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire beginning in 1558.

Masterfully designed and decorated by Paolo della Stella and Bonifaz Wolmut, its construction commenced in 1537 and spanned several decades, concluding with Ferdinand's death in 1564. At that time, it was referred to as a “Lusthaus,” serving as a unique palatial garden building that celebrated the transfer of the imperial title to the Austrian Habsburgs.

As one of the earliest Renaissance buildings in the transalpine region, the Belvedere showcases numerous references to the splendour of ancient Rome.

Jan Bažant obtained his Ph.D. in Classical Archaeology from the University of Prague in 1973 and has worked at the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic ever since. He is Professor of Classical Archaeology at Charles University in Prague.

Renate Leggatt-Hofer, formerly Holzschuh-Hofer until 2015, holds a Ph.D. in Art History, Archaeology, and Philosophy from the University of Vienna, earned in 1984.