Old Town Square, Prague. Photo by Jakub Hałun. Wikimedia Commons.

Top 10 Fascinating facts about Old Town Square, Prague


 

Old Town Square is a historic square in the Old Town quarter of Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic.

It is the oldest and most significant square that dates back to the 12th century. The square served as a marketplace at the crossroads of European trade routes that contributed to its growth.

The square is located between Wenceslas Square and Charles Bridge and has been witness to many historical events.

Many of Prague’s attractions sites are located in the square like the Old Town Hall, the Church of Our Lady before Týn, the Gothic House at the Stone Bell, the monument to Jan Hus, and the medieval astronomical clock among others.

Over the centuries the square had different names and the Prague meridian is marked on the pavement. Here are 10 Fascinating facts about Old Town Square, Prague:

1. It was founded in the 12th century

The old town Square was first founded during the 12th century when it served as a marketplace at the crossroads of European trade routes.

It was near the former customs house where the goods imported by foreign merchants were always cleared.

At the square, there were both fixed and portable shops, and even the Town Hall building itself was surrounded by shops of marketers.

This allowed the growth of the square to become the center of activity in Prague. It has become the most significant square of historical Prague and has been witness to many historical events.

2. Old town Square is the oldest square in the city

Old Town Square in Bohemian Review. Photo by Unknown author. Wikimedia Commons.

Old Town Square traces its origin back to the 12th century that first served as a marketplace at the crossroads of European Trade Routes.

It is the oldest square in Prague that has been the scene of tragic events such as executions.

It has also held various festivals and gatherings of the people and Royal coronation processions.

The First King of Czech John of Luxemburg passed through the square in 1311 together with his wife Elisabeth of Bohemia on their way to the Castle.

In addition, the square features buildings belonging to different architectural styles.

3.  It is located between Wenceslas Square and Charles Bridge

Wenceslas Square is one of the main city squares in New town Prague Many historical events occurred there.

It is the center of the business and cultural communities in the New Town of Prague, Czech Republic.

It was named after Saint Wenceslas, the patron saint of Bohemia making It a part of the historic center of Prague and a World. It borders Old town square and the Charles Bridge.

The Charles Bridge is a medieval stone arch bridge that crosses the Vltava river constructed in the 15TH century.

It was created under the auspices of King Charles IV replacing the old Judith Bridge that had been badly damaged by a flood in 1342.

4. Prague Orloj is mounted on the Old Town Hall in the square

Prague Astronomical Clock, Prague Orloj. Photo by AlfvanBeem. Wikimedia Commons.

Mounted on the Old Town Hall is a medieval astronomical clock called the Prague Orloj.

The Orloj is a clock with special mechanisms and dials to display astronomical information.

It is also the oldest one still in operation. The clock was first installed in 1410 and showcases the relative positions of the Sun, Moon, and zodiacal constellations.

The Orloj whose façade is decorated with gothic sculptures is the third-oldest astronomical clock in the world.

5. The art museum of the Czech National Gallery is located here

The art museum in Prague is a state-owned art gallery that manages the largest collection of art in the Czech Republic. 

Its creation dates back to the end of the 18th century and presents masterpieces of Czech and the rest of the world.

The gallery was founded when a group of prominent representatives of Bohemian patriotic aristocracy and middle-class intellectuals.

The group sought to elevate the so-called debased artistic taste of the local population into fine art.

The gallery is one of the world’s oldest public art galleries and one of the largest museums in Central Europe with permanent and temporary exhibitions.

The museum was built in place of the Kinský Palace which was originally built for the Golz family between 1755 and 1765. The palace has since then been under the administration of the National Gallery since 1949.

6. The square’s center is home to a statue of religious reformer Jan Hus

Jan Hus Statue on Old Town Square. Photo by Tadeáš Gregor. Wikimedia Commons.

Jan Hus was a Czech theologian and philosopher who became a Church reformer and a seminal figure in the Bohemian Reformation.

He was the inspiration for Hussitism which was a Czech proto-Protestant Christian movement.

Hus was a key predecessor to Protestantism and was considered by some to be the first Church reformer whose teachings had a strong influence on the approval of a reformed Bohemian religious denomination.

Jan was sentenced to the stake after his teaching and writings were condemned. Jan Hus was burned at stake in Konstanz for his beliefs leading to the Hussite Wars.

At the Old town square’s center, a statue was erected for the religious reformer Jan Hus on 6 July 1915 to mark the 500th anniversary of his death.

7. In 1918 the Marian Column was erected in the square

The Marian column in Old Town Square, Prague is a religious monument built in 1650.

It consists of a column topped with a statue of the Virgin Mary and was created in celebration of independence from the Habsburg empire.

It was erected after the Thirty Years’ War as a token of gratitude for the city’s role in the Battle of Prague which was the last action of the Thirty Years’ War in 1648.

The Marian Column was demolished in November 1918 after the fall of the Austro-Hungarian Empire which was a constitutional monarchy and great power in Central Europe between 1867 and 1918.

The column was reconstructed and completed on the 15th of August 2020.

8. In front of the Old Town Hall, there is a memorial to the martyrs

On the 21st of June 1621, there was an execution of 27 bohemian leaders by the Austrian House of Habsburg.

The 27 leaders began the Bohemian Revolt which was an uprising of the Bohemian estates against the rule of the Habsburg dynasty.

This arguably began the Thirty Years’ War one of the longest and most destructive conflicts in European history caused by both religious and power disputes.

Enraged after the final defeat in the Battle of White Mountain, the Habsburgs took their revenge and executed some of the key leaders of the uprising.

The House of Habsburg executed three noblemen, seven knights, and 17 burghers at the Old Town Square in Prague.

In front of the old town hall, there is a memorial to the 27 leaders beheaded on that spot during the Old Town Square execution by Habsburgs.

Twenty-seven crosses mark the pavement in honor of the martyrs Orthodox Czechs dare not trample these crosses out of respect.

They were installed during the repairs of the Old Town Hall after the Second World War with a nearby plaque that lists the names of all 27 victims dating from 1911.

9. The church of the Virgin Mary in front of Tyn is located in the square

Old Town Square in Prague. Photo by Suicasmo. Wikimedia Commons.

The church was established back during the 14th century after the town hall in the square.

The church highlights Prague’s unique gothic design that is one of a kind.  The Gothic church is the dominant feature of Old Town square and has been the main church of this part of the city since the 14th century.

It has two towers 80 m high, and each tower’s spire is topped by eight smaller spires in two layers of four.

The square also has another essential church called St. Nicholas Church. It is a baroque and late-gothic church that was created during the 13th century and is dedicated to Saint Nicholas.

 These projects highlight the importance of space that had become not only the economic but also the political and religious center of the life of Prague Old Town.

10. The Christmas Markets in Old Town Square is the largest in the Czech Republic

During the festive holidays like Christmas and Easter remakes of medieval markets are held in the square.

There is a tall decorated tree with illuminating lights during Christmas and musical stages are set up as well.

The square attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors from the Czech Republic and International visitors primarily made up of Italians Germans, Britons, and Russians.

This makes the Christmas Markets in Old Town Square the largest Christmas markets in the Czech Republic.

In addition, it was also ranked by CNN as one of the 10 best Christmas Markets worldwide in 2016.