From the late 1800s to the early 21st century the building’s residents acted to preserve history through photography. Czech portrait photographer Jan Langhans cataloged and maintained a massive collection of glass negatives, painstakingly organized and dubbed the Gallery of Eminent People. Tragically, most of them were destroyed in the 1950s during Communist occupation, but a small selection were discovered and displayed in the early 2000s. Today, the Centrum FotoŠkoda camera shop still operates from the building. Meanwhile, Langhan’s family has since handed over the former gallery space to a non-profit called The People in Need Centre, which focuses on “inspiration, meetings, and discussion for anyone concerned about the world of today.”
Time Out tip: The People in Need Centre café serves popular local roasters Mama Coffee and offers free WIFI.
Nearby:
U Pinkasu: For a pub with over a century of experience pouring cold Pilsner
Home Kitchen: For an innovative selection of soups and weekday lunch options
Main Post Office: For a glimpse of bureaucracy housed in frescoed walls and vaulted ceilings