Old Town Square

In the 14th century the city built around the Prague Castle expanded to the right bank and as early as 1091 a market existed at the site of the Old Town Square.

The square and surrounding streets are pedestrian zones, and during summertime it is filled with outdoor cafes where the many tourists can relax while surrounded by many remarkable medieval buildings. The Old Town Square is bordered by a large number of colorful houses, palaces and churches. Some of the most prominent buildings around the square are the Old Town Hall (famous for its astronomical clock), the Týn Church, the Kinský Palace and the St. Nicholas Church.

The most famous building at the Old Town Square is the 14th century Old Town City Hall. Its gothic tower, built in 1364, is one of the most recognizable buildings in Prague.

The tower is famous for its magnificent astronomical clock, built in 1410. It is the oldest such clock in Europe. Throngs of tourists gather in front of the clock every hour to witness the procession of miniature figures.

To the north the square is bordered by the 18th century St. Nicholas Church. It is one of the most beautiful of all baroque churches in Prague, and its interior is especially impressive.

Among the other buildings on this side of the square stands a profusely decorated building in Jugendstil style. It was erected at the end of the 19th century for an insurance company, but was later used as a government building.

The Týn Church is probably the most recognizable church in Prague thanks to its many spires. Construction of the gothic church started in the 14th century, but the spires were only finished in 1511. In front of the church is the historic Týn School, an arcaded gothic building that gives access to the church.

Nearby is another interesting gothic building, the House at the Stone Clock. The building had a baroque facade, but it was removed in 1980 to give the building back its original 14th century appearance. Note the beautiful gothic windows.

To the left of the House at the Stone Clock is the Goltz-Kinský Palace, a beautiful palace with a delicate rococo facade. Originally built by the Goltz family, the building was later purchased by Kinský, a diplomat of the emperor. In February 1948 Klement Gottwald, the communist leader, held a speech from the balcony of this palace which would eventually lead to the proclamation of a communist state.

The south side of the square is composed of a series of beautiful buildings with colorful renaissance and baroque facades. Some of the most notable buildings include the Štorch House, a renaissance building with a painting of St. Wenceslas and 'At the Stone Table', a nice example of baroque architecture.
Other buildings bear names such as 'At the Golden Unicorn', 'At the Stone Ram', 'At the Red Fox' and 'At the Blue Star'.

In the north-east corner of the square is the large Jan Hus Monument. It was erected in 1915 to mark the 500th anniversary of the reformer's death at the stake. Jan Hus (Jana Husa), born in 1369 was besides a reformer also a fervent Czech nationalist. In 1415 he was declared heretic at the council of Constanz.

The sculpture was made by Ladislav Saloun and was inspired by the works of the famous French sculptor Auguste Rodin. The statue depicts the persecution of the Czech nationalists and their reemergence 200 years later with the figure of Jan Hus at the center.