The headquarters of the Czech National Bank in photographs

The CNB's Visitor Centre is represented mainly by the newly reconstructed premises of the former bank hall at the CNB's headquarters in Prague. Like the building itself, this unique space has undergone a series of transformations since 4 May 1942, when all construction work on the building ended. To mark the 80th anniversary of this building, which was previously Živnostenská banka and has served as the headquarters of the Czech National Bank since 1993, the central bank has decided to publish an illustrated book about its current appearance and history. The topic of the first short-term exhibition at the Visitor Centre draws on this book and offers the general public an artistic look at the beauty of the building's current appearance through the lens of the leading Czech photographer Herbert Slavík.
The exhibition will also show historical photographs of the buildings that preceded the current bank building and photographs depicting the renewed neo-Renaissance and Functionalist beauty of the Prague Commodity Exchange, which is currently part of the Czech National Bank's complex of buildings in Prague.
The transformations of the location where the Czech National Bank is currently headquartered have, since the start of the 20th century, mirrored the expansion of the Czech banking industry as represented by Živnostenská banka, the most important Czech banking institution. Its leading position in the Czechoslovak economy is also embodied in the building designed by František Roith, who projected into it ideas held at the time about the majesty and impregnability of bank buildings. Therefore, since its establishment, it has been the symbol of Czech and Czechoslovak economic success, and it is now also the symbol of the Czech currency.
Come and learn about the history of the Czech National Bank's unique headquarters building in photographs.

We look forward to seeing you from 21 May 2022 onwards.

The CNB Visitor Centre team