Hotel Josef

Prague

Prague, capital of the Czech Republic, offers its numerous annual tourists fascinating and beautiful places to visit. Consisting of several neighborhoods steeped in history, it’s an ideal city for walking and discovering its vast number of exceptional sights. The old city for example, called the Stare Mesto, contains a number of the city’s symbols including the City Hall dating back to the 14^th century and its famous astronomical clock, the celebrated Charles Bridge with its two towers, as well as a great many buildings in Roman or Baroque styles standing side by side, which create a stunning architectural patchwork. The Jewish quarter known as Josefov is also well worth a visit. The Jewish community was very numerous in Prague as of the 8^th century and grouped themselves together in this quarter during the 13^th century when it was faced with some more or less difficult times and persecutions, which finally ended thanks to the Emperor Joseph II. The quarter was deteriorating and underwent a vast renovation campaign in the 19^th century during which some of it was torn down. Today, there are still several synagogues and of course the historic Jewish cemetery, which helps visitors to better understand the history of the quarter and its inhabitants.

A few grams of design in historic Prague

It’s in the historical center of Prague adjacent to the Josefov quarter that we find the statuesque Hotel Josef. Its resolutely modern architecture as compared to Prague’s traditional buildings, arouses the curiosity of many a passerby.

The hotel offers its guests a warm welcome in two buildings of eight and six stories called the Pink and the Orange House. Don’t be fooled though; there are no flashy pop colors here…on the contrary. As soon as they walk through the door, guests discover a white space which serves as the reception area with a few magnificent leather armchairs. A large, very design steel and transparent staircase takes up a great deal of space and seems to be there to lead guests to unknown worlds.

109 modern, well-equipped rooms lie on the other side of white doors, numbered in pink or in orange. The atmosphere inside is peaceful with light gray or beige walls, comfortable beds with large pillows, and design furniture, some of which are Philippe Starck creations. In short it’s the ideal place to relax and feel far away from the hustle and bustle of the city. Special mention should be made of the rooms equipped with glass bathrooms, whose transparence creates an incredible atmosphere. Some rooms have a view of the hotel’s interior courtyard or the majestic Prague Castle. The most luxurious rooms have a private balcony.

Breakfast is served on the ground floor in a beautiful, brightly lit room equipped with a bay window facing the courtyard which guests can take advantage of as soon as the sun makes it appearance. For those who want to continue staying in shape, there’s a fitness center as well as maps of the most pleasant jogging circuits in the city. After a day of touring and strolling, there’s nothing better than a relaxing massage in the well-being space of the hotel or sinking into one of the armchairs in the interior courtyard.

Every year, the Hotel Josef plays host to the of Prague Writers’ Festival, during which writers from all over the world come together for public readings and debates. It’s one of the city’s most important cultural events.