Vaclav's House

For the past three months we've lived in a palace (it's the one on the left).

Now, before you get too excited, know that  anything that housed nobility could be considered as such.  Our building was constructed in the 17th century for Vaclav Budovec.  Born in 1551, he was part of the Czech Estates, the leading class of the time.  A Protestant, he led the revolt against Catholicism and the Hapsburg monarchy in the Czech land and was part of the event that precipitated the 30 Year's War.  After the decisive Battle of White Mountain that effectively crushed any further Protestant rebellion, Budovec was executed along with 27 other nobles just steps away from his front door on Old Town Square.  Today, there are crosses on the Square to commemorate their sacrifice as well as a very nice statue of Budovec on the wall of his house.

Within his compound is a family chapel that our church uses today for services.  We live in an apartment the church rents on the second floor, overlooking the courtyard.  Throughout the day, we hear the bells from Tyn Church on the Square and the rumble of tourists rushing through the tiny streets around us.  This is what makes Europe, and Prague in particular, so amazing.  We didn't just see historical places, we lived in them.  The Czechs take great pride in their history and the physical representations of it (as well they should, the tourism revenue it generates is enormous).  But they don't "put it on a shelf" and hide it away, they put it to use in everyday life.

Jump over to our Facebook Album to see more of our place.