Page 684 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Europe

682  CENTR AL AND EASTERN EUROPE

The Old and New Towns council, the Town Hall grew in
the course of the next few
The heart of the city is the Old Town (Staré Město) and its centuries, and today consists
central square. In the 11th century, the settlements around the of a row of colorful Gothic
castle spread to the right bank of the Vltava. A marketplace in and Renaissance buildings.
what is now Old Town Square was first mentioned in 1091, The Old Town Hall Tower
is one of the building’s star
and houses and churches quickly sprang up around it. features and dates from 1364.
Founded in 1348 by Charles IV, the New Town (Nové Město) The gallery at the top provides
was mainly inhabited by tradesmen and craftsmen. In the late a magnificent view of the city.
19th century, much of it was demolished and completely Located on the first floor is the
redeveloped, giving it the appearance it has today. 14th-century Oriel Chapel, with
its ornate restored ceiling.
Another famous sight is the
was designed by Kilian Ignaz Astronomical Clock, built by the
Dientzenhofer. Today, it clockmaker Hanuš in 1490. The
houses art exhibitions by mechanism of the clock we see
the National Gallery. today was perfected by Jan
At the northern end of the Táborský between 1552 and
square, the Church of St. 1572. The clock records three
Nicholas stands on the site different kinds of time, Old
of a former church dating from Bohemian time, time as we
the 12th century. The present know it, and so-called
building, completed by Kilian Babylonian time. It also shows
Ignaz Dientzenhofer in 1735, the movement of the sun and
has a dramatic white façade, moon through the 12 signs of
studded with statues by the zodiac. Every time the clock
Antonín Braun. In summer, strikes the hour, mechanical
evening concerts are held here. figures perform above the
A colorful array of arcaded zodiac signs, drawing crowds of
buildings of Romanesque or spectators. The lower section of
Gothic origin, with fascinating the clock consists of the Calendar.
house signs, graces the south
side of the square. Among the
most attractive are the house
Church of Our Lady before Týn in the Old
Town Square called At the Stone Ram and
the Neo-Renaissance Štorch
r Old Town Square House, also known as At the
Stone Madonna.
q Staroměstská, Můstek. v 17, 18. At one end of the square
stands the huge monument
Free of traffic, except for a dedicated to the reformist
handful of horse-drawn Jan Hus, who was burnt at
carriages, and ringed with the stake for heresy in 1415.
historic buildings, Prague’s In addition to historic
enormous Old Town Square buildings, there are also many
(Staroměstské náměstí) ranks shops, as well as restaurants and
among the finest public spaces cafés, whose tables and chairs
of any European city. spill out onto the pavements
Dominating the east side of the square in summer.
of the square is the Church of
Our Lady before Týn, with its t Old Town Hall
magnificent Gothic steeples.
Begun in 1365, from the early Staroměstské náměstí 1. Tel 23 60 02
15th century until 1620 it was the 629. q Staroměstská, Můstek. v 17,
main Hussite church in Prague. 18. Open daily. & 7 8
Also on the east side of the
square, the House at the Stone Standing at the southwest
Bell has been restored to its corner of the Old Town Square,
former appearance as a Gothic the Old Town Hall is one of the
town palace. The splendid most striking buildings in Prague.
18th-century Rococo Kinský Established in 1338 after
Palace, with its pretty pink King John of Luxemburg Astronomical Clock and Calendar on the
and white stucco facade, agreed to set up a town Old Town Hall Tower
For hotels and restaurants see p688 and p689

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