The Old Town Square and other Prague, Czech Republic Things to Do Tips

Since 11th century this square has been Prague's most significant square and it was once the main marketplace until the beginning of the 20th century.
Its shape is irregular and formed by charming houses. Most of them originate from the middle ages and were late renaissance or baroque renovated. It is not only charming, but among them are also a number of architectural dominants, such as Old Town Hall (Staromestska Radnice) with the Astronomical clock (Orloj), the Tyn Cathedral (Tynsky Chram), the baroque St.Nicholas Church (kostel Sv. Mikulase), the rococo Kinsky palace (Palac Golz-Kinskych) housing the National Gallery graphic collection, the Memorial to Master Jan Hus (Pomnik Jana Husa) sculptured by Ladislav Saloun (1915).
The 27 white crosses embedded in the square pavement commemorate the execution of 27 Protestants on 21 June, 1621, who revolted against the Habsburg family.
Aside from the splendour of its many historical buildings, the square is, particularly in summer, a nice stop for refreshments on many outdoor seating.
Besides the with horse-drawn carriages no other vehicles are allowed.

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Address: Staromestske namesti
Directions: Heart of Old Town

In Czech: Kostel Panny Marie pred Tynem - Tynsky Chram
It is after St. Vitus's Cathedral (Chram Sv. Vita) the most remarkable Gothic church (80 m high) with a Baroque interior in Prague.
In the 14th century, the hospital church (which it was from around 10th century) was converted into the main cathedral of the Old Town.
Between the beginning of 15th century and 1620 was this the most important church of the Hussite in Prague. At the beginning of the Catholic counter-reformation, the church was taken over by the Jesuits in the year 1623.
Contains a.o. an organ by J.H.Mundt (1632-1690) from 1673 and is one of the most representative 17th century organs in Europe and the tomb of Tycho Brahe (1546-1601), the famous Danish astronomer.

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Phone: +420 222318186
Address: Tynsky chram.
Directions: Near Old-Town Square.
Website: http://tynska.farnost.cz/index_en.html

The Town Hall was founded in 1338 when blind King John of Luxembourg agreed to a modest dwelling for the town clerk.
In 1364 the tower was joined to the chapel and in the 1470 the Town Hall was refurnished in Gothic style. In fact is the Town Hall a fusion of buildings, each with a different architectural styles (Gothic, Renaissance).
In 1945 was the building severely damaged by fire, but is now mostly restored.
From the 69,5 m high tower is a beautiful view.

Astronomical Clock (Orloj)
The first clock of the Old Town hall dates from the beginning of the 15th century and must have been a fantastic technological achievement for the age. As the legend, the timepiece's maker Hanus was deliberately blinded by the local council in an attempt to stop him from building a similar clock elsewhere.
The mechanism of the clock made by Jan Taborsky between 1552-1572 is still functional.
Aside from showing the phases of the moon, the sun, planets and stars moving around the earth, the clock's most famous element is on the hour, a procession of the Twelve Apostles appears in the window in the upper part.
On both sides of the sphere are also movable sculptures. A skeleton rings a bell, turns over an hour-glass and nods at a Turk. The Turk shakes his head, explaning he does not want to go with him. Greed weighs his purse in his hand and Vanity admires himself in a mirror, both while nodding contentedly. The spectacle ends as the mechanical cock crows.
In the lower part, there are 12 medallions with signs of the zodiac, created by Josef Manes (1865).

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Address: Starometska radnice, Starometske namesti, Orloj
Directions: Old-Town Square

Since 11th century stands on this spot one of the 13 original fortification gates to the Old Town. Built by citizens in 1475 under Vladislav II, financed by tax which were increased on wine, secured the 42 m high Tower the royal palace of Wenzel IV in the Old Town, which had at the time the name New Tower.
It was not until the 17th century, that the Tower was used to store gunpowder.
During the Prussian occupation in 1757 was the Tower severely damaged.
The New Gothic restauration is done in the 19th century and is a copy of the Tower at the Charles Bridge.

Long distance view is possible and is accessible by 186 steps.
The now 65 m high Tower, is adjacent to the Municipal House (Obecni dum).

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Address: Prasna brana
Directions: Between Old Town and Namesti Republiky. Start of the Royal Route.

A view at the St. Vitus Cathedral (Gothic) from the Loretanska street.
Under the reign of Charles IV, in 1344, started to build this church, which replaced an old Basilica from 11th century, but it was between 1872 and 1929 that the cathedral was definitively finished as it is now.
Besides the graves where Czech kings, and other historical prominent are buried, in this cathedral are kept the crown jewels and the crown of king Wenceslas.

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Address: Katedrala sv. Vita, Vaclava a Vojtecha
Directions: Prague Castle

From many parts of Prague you can see the 'small Eiffel Tower' (60 m high), which was built according to the original Eiffel Tower in Paris for the national exhibition in the year 1891 on the Petrin Hill.
After you have climbed its 299 steps you will have the most wonderful views of Prague.
Building the tower took 53 days only.
There is a mirror labyrinth (zrdcadlove bludiste) and diorama in close proximity of the watchtower.

You can reach the Petrin watchtower a.o. with funicular railway, which is for kids very pleasant.

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Address: Petrinska rozhledna
Directions: Petrin Hill, visible from anywhere.

This library hall is completed in 1679 and you can find it in the Museum of Czech Literature, which is a part of the Strahov Monastery. Some of the astronomy globes are from the Dutchman Willem Blaeu. The wall paintings are telling us about the subject of a librarian.

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Address: Strahovksy klaster, Strahovske nadvori 1
Directions: From Prague Castle: Hradcanske namesti, Loretanska street, Pohorelec.
Website: http://www.strahovskyklaster.cz

This most fascinating room you can find also in the Museum of Czech Literature, which is a part of the Strahov Monastery. This new library hall is built in 1782 and the painting is from Franz Maulbertsch telling the History of Mankind.
Seeing this splendid room (and also the Theological Hall) one can not be surprised that several films were filmed here – Dungeons & Dragons and most recent the League of Extraordinary Gentlemen.

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Address: Strahovksy klaster, Strahovske nadvori 1
Directions: From Prague Castle: Hradcanske namesti, Loretanska street, Pohorelec.
Website: http://www.strahovskyklaster.cz

Wallenstein Garden (Valdstejnska Zahrada) from the 17th century.
Through a 'statue-path' (among them work by the Dutch sculptor Adriaan de Vries) you reach the splendid sala terrena (garden pavilion). Unfortunately are the bronze sculptures in the garden copies; the originals were confiscated by the Swedish during their occupation of Prague in 1648.
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Address: Letenska
Directions: Just 5 min. walk from Metro Malostranska station.
Open daily (May-Sept): 9 a.m.- 7 p.m.

Certovka (the Devil's Stream) at Kampa Island, known also as Venice of Prague.
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Directions: Lesser Town