František Maxmilián Kaňka

Clementinum Astronomical Tower

Church of St. John of Nepomuk, Kutná Hora

František Maxmilián Kaňka (9 August 1674 in Prague – 14 July 1766 in Prague) was a Czech architect and builder, known for his work on castles, palaces and churches. In 1724, he was appointed court architect by the Holy Roman Emperor, Charles VI.

Work

He is most famous for reconstructions of palaces and castles of Bohemian nobles and for designs of churches and other religious buildings, principally in the Baroque style. His work includes:

• reconstruction of Vrtba palace and Vrtba garden in Prague
• reconstruction of Krásný Dvůr Castle (c. 1720)
• the Astronomical Tower and other structures at the Clementinum in Prague (with Anselmo Lurago, c. 1720)
• reconstruction of the facade of the St. Procopius Basilica in Třebíč, part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site in that town
• the castle of Konopiště outside of Benešov, the last residence of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria and now a museum
• the church of St. John of Nepomuk in Kutná Hora
• Veltrusy Mansion, residence of count Václav Antonín Chotek of Chotkov and Vojnín
• reconstruction of the Karolinum complex in Prague, the seat of Charles University
• Donaueschingen Palace in Baden-Württemberg, Germany, seat of the princes of Fürstenberg

External links

• List of his works in Prague (in Czech)