Prague

The River Vltava ( which inspired Smetana to compose his unforgattable music ) flows through Prague and surrounds 7 islands. About 18 bridges stretch over the river.

King’s road

The name of the King’s road comes from the times, when the way was used by the kings of Bohemia at their coronation. It starts at the POWDER TOWER a monument of the Czech late gothic which was built during the reign of Vladislav Jagellonský at the end of the 15th century. It was rebuilt in the 18th century by Matyáš Rejsek.

Next to the Powder tower we can see the MUNICIPAL HOUSE. An example of the secession style of the beginning of our century. In the 14th century it was the manor house of bohemian kings.

Passing through the Powder tower we enter CRLETNA STREET. In the 13th century the street was named according special kind of bread which was baked there. There are a lot of houses in different styles. The most interesting one is the cubist House at the Black God’s Mother. Some houses are decorated by signs which were used instead of numbers.

Celetna street lead to the OLD TOWN SQUARE. An old intersection of trade roads and a market place which became a square in the 12th century. Above the arcades of the Latin school with gables in Venetian Renaissance style, raises one of the dominants of the square – spires of the TÝN CHURCH. It is a fine example of gothic from the 14th century.

Another interesting architecture monument is the HOUSE AT THE STONE BELL. After removing the baroque facade we can see the original gothic architecture from the 14th century. The biggest house in the square is the KINSKÝ PALACE built in the rococo style. Our attention is also attracted by the baroque Church of the ST. Nicholas built in the 18th century by Kilian Dienzenhofer.

But the most important building at the square is the OLD TOWN HALL dating back to the 14th century when Jan Lucemburský allowed Old Town burgesses establish their own administration.

Behind the Old Town Square there is Little square with renaissance fountain.

Another interesting monument is the PALACE OF CLAM-GALLAS on the corner of the KARLOVA STREET. It leads passed the Clementinum to the Charles Bridge.

The Clementinum was the jesuit collage founded in the 16th century. In the 17th century it became the seat of the Charles University and now it is used as national library.

Before entering Charles Bridge we cross Little Square with two baroque churches of St.Frances and St.Salvator which is a part of the Clementinum

Charles Bridge is guarded by three towers. The Old Town Tower is the oldest but the wall of the Lesser Town Towers comes from the 12th century when there was a wooden bridge.

Mostecká street leads to the LESSER TOWN SQUARE. There is dominate the baroque church of St.Nicolas built by father and son Dienzenhofer.

NERUDOVA STREET contains some of the fines Prague baroque houses and palaces. It was named after Jan Neruda, famous Czech writer and poet who lived in the 19th century in the House of Two Suns. The Nerudova street is the border between two part of Prague, Hradčany and Lesser Town. Before an entrance to the Castle our sight is captured first by the panoramic view of Prague.