Old Town

You are now standing on the Republic Square in front of the 15th century Powder Gate, which was one of the most important gate to the Old Town. It is connected to the Obecní House, a very popular Art Nouveau building from between 1905 - 1911. It is here that the independance of Czechoslovakia was formally declared, hence the name Republic Square. The Municipal House is a cultural centre with a concert hall. The Art Nouveau coffeehouse to the left on the ground

We are standing in the Celetna street, one of Prague’s oldest, which was already renowned in the Romanesque era and still retains the same prestige today. Its name comes from the “caltas”, which were plaited buns made by the many bakers settled in the area. On a corner of the street stands the House At the Black Madonna (Dum U Cerne Matky bozi) dating from 1911-12. It is the greatest Cubist building constructed in Prague by Josef Gocar. This type of architecture doesn’t exist anywhere else in the world and is much admired by visitors and locals alike.
We once again recommend that you visit the

The oldest name was "Nové Tržiště" (New Market) that differentiated the market place from an older marketplace on the Old Town Square, which we shall see later. The name "Ovocný Trh" (Fruit Market) has been in use approximately since the year of 1870. Fruit was sold here at the beginning of the 20th century. No permanent markets are held. The premises underwent renovation work and they are now used for exhibitions, various presentations, etc. Each year before Christmas, an artificial ice-skating rink is set up to the pleasure of adults and children.
The Building u České Orlice from 1897 is impressive

This theatre was completed in the Classicist style between 1781 and 1783 and its construction was funded by F. A. Nostic-Rieneck (the theatre was named after him). In this theatre Mozart conducted his opera "Le Nozze di Figaro" and his operas "Don Giovanni" and "La Clemenza di Tito" had their premiere. Later the building was purchased by the Bohemian Estates, hence today´s name "Stavovské Divadlo" (Estates Theatre). The Czech Republic National Anthem had its premiere here as well. The facade

Josefina Dušková, renowned singer in whose house Mozart was a guest, lived in the Building u Černého Slunce. Mozart actually lived in Prague while he was very popular thanks to the success of his opera Don Giovanni. The Building u Českého Lva still retains its original seal. The Týnský Church will empress you thanks to its size and monumental towers. A copy of the sculpture of the Virgin Mary reminds us of the plague pillar which stood on the Old Town Square in the past.
Behind the church,

The Týnský Court called Ungelt or Týn "Otýněný Dvůr" (Walled Court), was a place where foreign traders could warehouse their merchandise and spend a night. Over time, a fee paid for the protection of traders became a regular customs duty charged on the merchandise imported to Prague or transported through Prague. In the 14th century, this customs duty was called Ungelt, hence the second name which is still in use. The Court's Latin name, "Laeta Curia" (Happy Court), suggests this was a rather boisterous place. Today's Ungelt is still a walled

The church of St. Salvatore is a Gothic-Renaissance building constructed between 1611 and 1614 for the German Lutherans. they had attempted before to acquire one of the existing churches in Prague but unsuccessfully. The land was donated to them by Count Šlik, who was himself an Evangelist and money was collected throughout Europe. The church included a parish, a school, and a six-year Lutheran High School for 200 pupils. The Lutherans kept their church only eight years, Emperor Ferdinand the Second took it from

We are at the edge of the Jewish Town (Josefov) and the Old Town. There is a plaque on the corner house reminding us that this is Franz Kafka´s birthplace (1883), a prominent Jewish writer from Prague. In 2000, the adjacent area was named after him. Foreign visitors are sometimes confused by a red plaque with the words "Náměstí Franze Kafky". You will not see the words "Franz Kafka Square" because the Czech language uses declensions which modify the endings of words depending on the case, like in Slavic and some other

On the side of the Clam-Gallas Palace, there is an alcove with a public fountain, which houses a copy of the sculpture Vltava, popularly called Terezka. One side of the square features the rear side of the Klementinum, a former Jesuit college, today the headquarters of the National Library. The building of the National Library was built from 1926 to 1930. Today, in addition to the library, it houses a marionette theatre called World of Puppets (known throughout Europe – the international marionette theatre organization UNIMA was founded here in 1929),

The church of St. Jiljí was built in the 14th century. It is the only church in Prague consecrated to this saint. In medieval times, St. Jiljí was one of the most controversial saints in Western Europe. The legend says that he owned a tamed roe deer, which was one day tracked by King Wamba´s hounds. The king shot an arrow into the bushes, rushed and saw the wounded St. Jiljí holding his roe deer while the king's dogs were frozen to the ground as if by magic.
Famous Bohemian

Lets admire the superior beauty of the facade of the Renaissance Building u Vejvodů. It is really worth paying attention to it. The name comes from one of numerous owners, Mayor Jan Vejvoda of Stromberg, who bought the house in 1707. He was nominated Mayor of the Old Town of Prague by Maria Theresa. Above the Renaissance portal, you can see the stucco seal of a different owner, Mayor Turek, who became famous in 1648, when he fearlessly took command o a group of men in order to defend the Old Town against the Swedes.
One details of the seal is

The name "Uhelný Trh" (Coal Market) comes from a blacksmith shop and a mining foundry plant that also sold charcoal here in the 14th century. Today, it is a quiet small square, where artists paint and sell their work in the summer. A copy of a Classicist fountain is decorated with an allegory of Winemaking and Agriculture. Across the square, we can see St.Martin in the Wall Church. As the town developped, the church found itself very close to the city fortification wall, hence its name "in the Wall". The plaque with a portrait on the facade

Havelská Street is named after St Havel church, Baroque towers, Baroque facade, sculptures. The former Municipal Saving Bank of Prague from the 19th century is now the "Česká Spořitelna" (Czech Saving Bank). Havelský Market goes back to medieval times, it is today the only permanent outdoor market in the Old Town. You can buy fruit, vegetables and souvenirs 7 days a week.
Melantrichova Street is named after Jiří Melantrich of Aventin, who owned a

The Building u Dvou Zlatých Medvědů with its richly decorated Renaissance portal attracts the eye, it is one of the most beautiful in Prague. The two bears theme is easily explained – it comes from the name of the previous house dating from the beginning of the 16th century that was named "Building u Zlatého Medvěda" (Golden Bear House). There are two male bears with plant tendrils on the portal. The hop plants on the left side remind us that this used to be a brewery in the 15th century. The gate

Initially, the space taken up by the Small Square was the continuation of the road that went from the Old Town market to the Vltava ford. Its triangular layout originates from the Romanesque era. The fountain with the Renaissance latticework and the emblem of the Czech lion was built in 1560 and water used to be pumped from the well over which it was set. The Neo-Renaissance Building U Rotta is decorated with paintings of Crafts and Agriculture designed by Mikolas Ales. Very few people know that the first Bohemian Prague Bible was printed in 1488 in a house that used to stand here.
The Classic portal on the High Baroque

The Old Town Square is one of the oldest, and Prague residents favourite. The square is more than 9,000 square metres. It was the main marketplace as early as in the 13th century. The square has always held events, festivals and manifestations important for the entire country (for instance the Velvet Revolution in 1989 being one of the recent ones). Each year during the Easter and Christmas holidays, Markets take over the square. Every spring marathon runners from all over the world gather

The monument to famous Czech reformer Jan Hus from 1915 was unveiled on the occasion of the 500th anniversary of his burning to death at the stake. A short distance in front of the monument is the Prague Meridian marked by a metal plaque in the pavement. The original placement of the Plague Pillar (torn down in 1918) is visible thanks to the new foundation stone for a projected copy. The facade of the Golz-Kinský Palace in Rococo style is optically divided into five parts so as to make a harmonious whole with the neighbouring houses. However, it was moved forward of the houses in order to show its significance.