Eastern and Central Europe (Eyewitness Travel Guides)

An illustration depicting the execution of

the Protestant leaders

248 CENTRAL EASTERN EUROPE

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

Old Town Hall t

Staroměstská radnice

One of the most striking buildings in Prague, the Old
Town Hall was established in 1338 by King John of
Luxemburg. Over the centuries, several nearby houses
were knocked together as the Town Hall expanded,
and it now consists of a row of colourful Gothic and
Renaissance buildings. Most of these have been restored
after damage inflicted by the Nazis in 1945. The 69-m
(228-ft) high tower offers a great view.

Old Town Coat of Arms

Above the inscription,

“Prague, Head of the

Kingdom”, is the coat of

arms of the Old Town,

which was adopted in

1784 for the whole city.

Oriel Chapel

The original stained-glass

windows on the five-sided

chapel were destroyed in the

last days of World War II,

but were replaced in 1987.

Old Council Hall features a

19th-century engraving on

the well-preserved

15th-century ceiling.

EXECUTIONS IN THE OLD TOWN SQUARE

Tourist
information and
entrance to tower

Temporary art
exhibitions

A bronze tablet below the Oriel Chapel records

the names of the 27 Protestant leaders who were

executed here by order of Emperor Ferdinand II

on 21 June 1621. This was the result of Czech’s

humiliating defeat at the Battle of the White

Mountain, which was the first battle of the Thirty

Years’ War in 1620. It led to the emigration of

Protestants unwilling to give up their faith, a

Counter-Reformation drive by the Catholic Church

and a campaign of Germanization.