History of Hotel Praha in Liberec, originally the Schienhof
The plot on the corner of Zelezna Street was purchased by the wealthy mill and bakery tycoon Ignaz Schien from Ruzodol I, so that he could build a modern hotel. Despite coming up against great difficulties with the approving bodies, who objected particularly to the fakt that the that the building´s design would clash with its neighbours, he finally managed, to build an imposing secessionist hotel named Schienhof (Schien´scourt).
The plans were drawn up by the architect Robert Hemmerich from Jablonec. After 1945 the hotel was given the name Praha, although after 1951 it underwent major conversion work to house the offices of Stavoprojekt (until 1982). In 1991 the general reconstruction was finished and the hotel once again began to serve visitors to Liberec.
In 2003 the new owners carried out further sensitive reconstruction work to highlight the secessionist elements; the interior of the Secession Restaurant on the 1st floor was altered to the original art nouveau style, as was the hotel reception.
Some of the more important guests since 1989 have been Vaclav Havel, who visited the Hotel Praha after incredible 24 years, Vaclav Klaus, as well as a number of major figures from the world of culture and business.