|
Stare Mesto , the "Old Town", founded in the early thirteenth century, is where most of the capital's markets, shops, restaurants and pubs are located. It is linked to Mala Strana by the city's most familiar monument, the Charles Bridge (Karluv most), begun in 1357. The statues that line it - brilliant pieces of Jesuit propaganda added during the Counter-Reformation - have made it renowned throughout Europe and choked during the summer. Cross to Stare Mesto and you're in busy Krizovnicke namesti , from where the narrow, crowded Karlova winds past the massive Klementinum , the former Jesuit College, completed just before the order were turfed out of the country in 1773. It now serves as the national library and state technical library, though the first floor has temporary exhibitions of some of the library's prize possessions, and there are regular concerts in the Mirrored Chapel (Zrcadlova kaple) and hourly tours at weekends (30 kc). At the end of the street lies Staromestske namesti , the most spectacular square in Prague and the city's main marketrlace from the eleventh century. At its centre is the dramatic Art Nouveau Jan Hus Monument . When John of Luxembourg gave Prague the right to have a town hall in 1338, the community bought a corner house on the square, gradually incorporating neighbouring buildings to form the Old Town Hall (Staromestska radnice). Over the next century, the east wing was added, but only its graceful Gothic oriel and wedge-tower survived the arson of retreating Nazis. On the south facade, the central powder-red building now forms the entrance to the whole complex (Mon 11am-6pm, Tues-Sun 9am-5/6pm). You can also climb the tower - one of the few with access for the disabled - and get a close-up view of the figures of Christ and the Apostles which take part in a mechanical performance on the town hall's Astronomical Clock every hour (daily 8am-8pm). Stare Mesto's most impressive Gothic structure is the mighty Tyn Church , whose twin towers rise like giant antennae above the two arcaded houses which otherwise obscure its facade. It was completed during the reign of George of Podebrady (1436-1471), the one and only Hussite King of Bohemia, but little of the interior survived its ferocious Catholicization. Behind, at the end of Tynska, lies Ungelt, a stunning fortified courtyard where customs used to be collected; it houses the Renaissance Granovsky palace plus some very upmarket shops and cafes.
Your Tip for Stare Mesto
Help other backpackers! Write your own guides and backpacking tips to Stare Mesto - they will appear instantly on this page - Please only write a tip/guide to Stare Mesto - visit the main Stare Mesto forum to ask a question!
Please do not post links to your site here (they won't work) - please use the Stare Mesto webguide section below! Thanks.
|
