Amongst the multitude of sites to see stands the Old Town Square, the scene of the most important events that took place in Prague in the past 10 centuries. The Old Town Square itself is surrounded of architectural jewels, from the Old Town Hall with the Astronomical Clock, to the church of Our Lady Before Tyn, the church St Nicholas, the monument of Jan Hus – the founder of the Hussite Church… and breath-taking architectural details on almost every house.

Old Town Square

The Old Town Square is the most important and most visited of al sites in Prague. It started out as market centre in the 11 th century, and throughout the centuries it became the scene of the most important events in Prague, historical, political and cultural. The Old Town Square is actually a collection of historical monuments of great cultural value.

Jan Hus and his memorial

Perhaps it would be best to start with the Jan Hus memorial in the Old Town Square; understanding Jan Hus and what he meant to Prague is crucial to get a coherent image of the history of Prague.

Jan Hus is a very important figure in Prague's history; it was the end of the 14 th century, marked with political and religious convulsions. Jan Hus was a scholar and a priest, and he received the master's degree of Bachelor of Arts at the University of Prague (Karolinum) and then became rector of the university. About the same time he became preacher in the Bethlehem chapel.

In his preaching, Jan Hus he condemned the immorality of the priests, and wanted ethical standards in the church to overcome the financial abuses and sexual immorality. He also supported giving all Christians full communion. At that time, only the priests were allowed to receive wine during communion. He was against to the papal selling of indulgences. In a word, he questioned the Church's authority and said that religion should be found in the Bible rather than in the church. The nature of his preaching quickly raised the opposition of the church, and at the beginning of the 15 th century he was excommunicated and burned at the stake in Germany for his believes.

Following the death of Jan Hus a series of conflicts break down in Bohemia; as the Bohemian knights and noblemen were in favor of Hus, the conflicts that followed gained both political and religious dimensions: the eradication of the hussites, who were now heretics, and the fight for the Bohemian Crown, which was now claimed by king Sigismund, the Holy Roman Emperor.

Bethlehem Chapel

The Bethlehem chapel was new at that time (was constructed late 14th century), but the building that we see in the Bethlemske Square today actually dates from 1954 – the first chapel was destroyed in the 19th century, and was remade from drawings, paintings, and local records.

Old Town Hall

The Old Town Hall was built in 1338 as a symbol of the Prague 's autonomy, when King John of Luxembourg accorded the citizens of Prague the right to have their own council.

The Old Town Hall is part of an extensive array of buildings constructed on Romanesque foundations and reconstructed over the centuries. The Wolflin House (on the corner of the old Town Square) was incorporated as foundation of the Town Hall; in the 14th century Town Hall tower was finished, and the Astronomical Clock was inaugurated. Then, at the inauguration of the Town Hall's Chapel, a statue of the Madonna was placed on the corner. Over time, the house of Furrier Mikes and the Empire House at the Cock were incorporated to it.

On the southern side of the Old Town Hall stands at the house At the Minute, built in Renaissance style in the 17 th century; its entire façade is decorated with ornamental drawings. Franz Kafka's family lived on the second floor of this building for a few years at the end of the 19 century.

Astronomical Clock

The Astronomical Clock on Prague 's Town Hall in the Old Town Square is one of the best known symbols of Prague. Built in 1410, it was at that time the largest astronomical clock ever to be placed on the facade of a building. At the beginning it had only the astronomical dial, and the calendar dial was added at the end of the 15th century. The clock consists of three sections: the procession of the apostles, the astronomical dial and the calendar (a round disc with allegorical symbols of the twelve months of the year).

The Clock was partially destroyed in 1945, and the original statues of the apostles were replaced one year later. The most spectacular feature of the Astronomical Clock is the hourly procession of the apostles; the parade features symbolic characters as the skeleton (symbol of death, the two allegories of Vice (Avarice and Vanity) that shake their heads in disapproval, the Turk, which is a reminder of the Turkish invasion of Central Europe in the 16th and 17th centuries.

Church Our Lady before Tyn

The 80m towers of the Church Our Lady before Tyn scratch the sky behind the Old Town Square. The Church Our Lady before Tyn is a symbol of Prague, and offers an astonishing view at the Old Town Square. It was constructed at the late 14 century, during hussites period, and inside it hosts the tomb of the famous Danish astronomer Tycho Brahe (who was King Rudolf II's personal astronomer). The northern portal of the church was built in gothic style, and it preserves its original bas-reliefs. The portal is accessible from Tynska Street.

Royal Way

The Royal Way starts from the Powder Gate, goes through the Old Town Square and leads to Prague Castle, passing on Charles Bridge and through the beautiful quarter Mala Strana; this is the route of coronation processions for Czech kings and preserves the Renaissance and Gothic style of the houses.

Charles Bridge

The best known bridge in Prague was finished in 1400 and links the Old Town to Mala Strana. Charles Bridge stands on the foundations of the first bridge over the river Vltava; this was built in 1170, but crumbled on the 14th century. The bridge is now pedestrian, but for 600 years it was the main carriage route between Prague Castle and Old Town.

Charles Bridge is considered the finest Gothic bridge in Central Europe, mainly for its decoration.

There are thirty statues on the bridge, many of which have been replaced with copies. The originals are kept in the National Museum and at Vyšehrad castle.

A walk through the bridge offers breath-taking views over the two castles of Prague, the river, the Old Town and Mala Strana; and also the magic of music and art that has already become a tradition on the bridge.

The Jewish Quarter

One of the most antique quarters of Prague, the Jewish Quarter was founded on the 13th century and it became a walled ghetto in the 16th century. The walls lasted to the mid 19th century when Emperor Joseph abolished the discrimination and tore down the walls. The Jewish Museum consists of four synagogues, the ancient cemetery, and the Ceremonial Hall. Ironically, this museum is partly due to Adolph Hitler, who wanted to preserve Josefov as a museum of the "exterminated race."

The small cemetery was the only burial ground allowed for the Prague Jews for over 300 years. The Old-New Synagogue (1270) is the oldest in Europe. The Maisel Synagogue shows a thousand years of Jewish history in Bohemia. The Pinkas Synagogue is a moving memorial to the victims of the Nazis, including an exhibit of children's art from Terezin, a Czech "model" Nazi concentration camp.

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Wenceslas Square, National Museum and National Theatre

Wenceslas Square is a broad commercial center of Prague lined with elegant shops and restaurants, and with select night clubs. Wenceslas is better known for being the heart of Prague's nightlife, although it stands out also for its history and his beauty.

The boulevard originates from period of Charles IV (over 600 years ago) when it was a horse market. On the top of the hill, facing the boulevard is the National Museum. The beautiful landscape and benches along the boulevard offer a refreshing break on the long walks in the centre.

Wenceslas Square, is dominated by the statue of Saint Wenceslas, from whom it got its name.

He is the Catholic Duke Wenceslas I (lived in the 10th century), who became the Patron Saint of Bohemia.

The buildings along Wenceslas square are mainly in art-nouveau style, showing that the area was intensely urbanized in the 19th century. The most relevant monuments of this period are the National Museum on the top of Wenceslas Square, and the National Theatre, which is a short walk from here, on Narodni street. Both buildings were constructed during the period of resurgent Czech culture and nationalism in the 19th century.

The National Museum holds important pieces of Czech art and history, including some of the original statues of Charles Bridge.

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Vysehrad Castle and Rotunda of St Martin

Prague's first royal seat was founded in the in the 9th century on a hill on the right bank of the Vltava River. As most royal castle in the Middle Ages, Vysehrad is surrounded by fortifications, and its most imposing building is a chapel. Vysehrad offers now incredible views over Prague, and it's a refreshing oasis of tranquility: around the Chapel there are now beautiful gardens, perfect for a romantic walk in a quiet afternoon.

Right after the entrance gate, you'll find the oldest building in Prague, the Rotunda of St Martin, dating from the 11th century.

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Mala Strana is a beautiful baroque district, which stretches from Charles Bridge to Prague Castle. It used to be an aristocratic quarter, which hosts now many palaces built by noblemen throughout the centuries; now most of these palaces are embassies.

Malostranske Namesti and Church St Nicholas

Malostranske Namesti is the heart of Mala Strana, just as the Old Town Square is the heart of the Old Town. St Nicholas Church dominates the square, surrounded by beautiful historical buildings, a network of cobblestone side streets with small shops, churches, traditional Czech pubs and restaurants. There are actually two churches St Nicholas, both designed by the same architect: one of them is in the Old Town Square, and the other in Malostrankske Namesti in Mala Strana.

Both Churches host many classical concerts; in the St Nicholas Church in Mala Strana W.A. Mozart played the organ while he was living in Prague.

Prague Castle

Prague Castle is one of the best known symbols of Prague; built on the top of the hill, it is a beautiful view from any part of the city centre. Prague Castle has been the Royal seat for the past 6 centuries, and it is still the official residence of the president of the Czech Republic.

Golden Street

Zlatá ulicka, or the Golden Street, is a little street inside Prague castle's walls, famous for his charm. It is a perfectly preserved street with small houses that host tiny shops and small homes of the artisans who once served the castle's occupants.

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