Alongside the building of the National Theatre, National Museum and Rudolfinum, the National House of Vinohrady is a beautiful and eloquent reflection of the cultural efforts of the late nineteenth century. Just like the National Theatre, the National House is a manifestation of national liberation efforts typical of nineteenth century society. In the nineteenth century the Czech lands were under a fourth century of Austrian rule, with increasingly intensified efforts to regain national freedom, not only in a physical form, but especially culturally. Several centuries of cultural and linguistic dominance by Austria and the German language had threatened the extinction or deep corrosion of Czech national identity - the loss of the Czech language, dilution of national pride and identity towards a merger with German-speaking countries, and ultimately the destruction of the Czech nation with its rich and important history