Staré Město

Staré Město (Old Town) is the original place of settlement of Prague. It was separated from the outside by a semi-circular moat and wall, connected to the Vltava at both of its ends. The moat is now covered up by the streets (from north to south-west) Revolučni, na Příkopě, and Národni - which remain the official boundary of the cadastral district of Old Town. It is now in Praha 1.

In the heart of the Old Town is the Old Town Square where centuries of notable entertainment have taken place and where a feeling of the dramatic history permeates the atmosphere. The Jan Hus statue is the centrepiece among a variety of surrounding historical buildings. The statue was erected on July 6th 1915 to mark the 500th anniversary of the reformer's death. The groundswell of supporters for his beliefs during the 14th & 15th centuries eventually led to the Hussite wars. Despite the initial outcry at the modern style of the sculpture the statue stands as a symbol of Czech identity.

The most notable sights here, easily viewed from the comfort of one of the out door cafes, are the Church of our Lady at Tyn, the astronomical clock tower (a part of the town hall) and many buildings of the Romanesque, baroque and gothic styles.


Staroměstské náměstí

From its early existence, approximately around 9th century Staré Město was laid out of settlements which appeared from the spacious marketplace of the bank of Vltava. The records dated back to 1100 indicate that every Saturday there was a market on the marketplace, and the large military gatherings also took place there. Thanks to the trade the nearby area merchants became rich, and when the King Vaclav 1 gave them the privileges of town, the town of Mesto Prazske (the town of Prague) was formed. According to ancient records, the city had around 13 gates, and a huge water-fence, providing strong defenses.

After the city was expanded in the 14th century by Charles IV with the founding of the New Town, the moat and wall were therefore dismantled soon after.