Page 34 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Prague

32  INTRODUCING PR A GUE

Baroque Prague

In 1619, the Czech nobles deposed Habsburg Emperor
Ferdinand II as King of Bohemia and elected instead the
Protestant ruler Frederick of the Palatinate. The following year,
they paid for their defiance at the Battle of the White Mountain,
the beginning of the Thirty Years’ War. There followed a period
of persecution of all non-Catholics, accompanied by the
Germanization of the country’s institutions. The leaders in the Extent of the City
fight against Protestantism were the Jesuits and one of their 1750 Today
most powerful weapons was the restoration of Prague’s churches
in Baroque style. Many new churches also adopted this style. Mirror Chapel

Church of St Nicholas
This outstanding High Baroque
church in the Little Quarter
was the work of the great
Dientzenhofers (see pp128–9).

Grape Courtyard

Measuring the World
Some monasteries were seats
of learning. Strahov (see pp120–21)
had two libraries built, decorated
with Baroque painting. This fresco
detail is in the Philosophical Hall. Holy Saviour Church

Old Town coat of arms – embellished 1706–14 Decoration
1627 Beginning of with the Imperial eagle and 12 flags of Charles Bridge
Counter-Reformation in recognition of the defence of the with statues
committee in Prague city against the Swedes
1625 1645 1665 1685 1705
1648 Swedes occupy Prague Castle. Treaty 1704–53 Building of
of Westphalia and end of Thirty Years’ War Church of St Nicholas
1631 Saxon in the Little Quarter
occupation 1634 Wallenstein killed 1676–8 New bastions
of Prague by Irish mercenaries built to fortify Vyšehrad

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