Eastern and Central Europe (Eyewitness Travel Guides)

246 CENTRAL EASTERN EUROPE

For hotels and restaurants in this region see pp288–91 and pp292–5

MALÉ

NÁMĚSTÍ

In the 11th century, the settlements around Prague
Castle (see pp232–3) grew manifold and the Old
Town (Staré Město) was created. Free of traffic and
ringed with historic buildings, the Old Town Square
(Staroměstské náměstí) ranks among the finest pub-
lic spaces in any city. In summer, café tab les spill
out on to the cobblestoned streets, and the area
draws visitors in droves. Prague’s colourful history
comes to life in the buildings around the square.

The Štorch House
Based on designs by
Mikoláš Aleš, the façade
has a painting of St
Wenceslas on horseback.

Church of

St Nicholas

Church of Our Lady before Týn

The church’s Gothic steeples are

the Old Town’s most distinctive

landmark u

The Jan Hus Monument was

erected in 1915 on the 500th

anniversary of Jan Hus’s

(see p228) burning at

the stake.

Kinský Palace
The palace, built by Kilian Ignaz
Dientzenhofer, has a stucco
façade crowned with statues of
the four elements.

. Old Town Hall
Located in the Old
Town Square, the
Town Hall’s famous
astro nomical clock
dates from the early
1400s. A procession of
wooden statues moves
at the top of the clock
every hour t

Street-by-Street: Old Town

STAR SIGHTS

. Old Town Hall
. Municipal House

ZELEZNÁ

STAROMĚSTSKÉ

NÁMĚSTÍ

The Štorch House

KEY

Suggested route

The House at the

Two Golden Bears has a

carved Renaissance portal

which is the finest of its

kind in Prague.