Prague Old Town Hotels
Old Town was mentioned in 1091. It is the oldest of the towns of Prague gained the privileges of a town in the 13th century. However, its name dates back to the 14th century when the New Town was founded. The centre of the Old Town has always been the Old Town Square dominated by the Church of Our Lady of Týn and the Town Hall.ÂOld Town is the original place of settlement of Prague, Czech Republic. It was separated from the outside by a semi-circular moat and wall, connected to the Vltava at both of its ends. After the city was expanded in the 14th century by Charles IV with the founding of the New Town, the moat and wall were therefore dismantled soon after. Notable places in the Old Town include the Old New Synagogue and the Old Town Square or Astronomical Clock.Â
Powder Gate (Prašná brána)
The 65m-tall Powder Tower was begun in 1475 during the reign of King Vladislav II Jagiello to form one of the 13 entrances to the Old Town. In 1483 it was left unfinished because the king moved to Prague Castle. Between 1875 and 1886 the tower was rebuilt, decorated and steepled by Josef Mocker. The gate acquired its present name in the 17th century when it was used to store gunpowder. Today, there is a small exhibition about the tower and it is open for great views.Â
Municipal House (Obecnà d?m)
The Municipal House was built on the site of the royal court between 1906 and 1912. It is Prague"s most prominent Art Nouveau building. Above the main entrance there is a huge mosaic ð€ÇHomage to Pragueð€Çby Karel Spillar. Inside, there is the Smetana Hall ð€“ the biggest concert hall in Prague, number of smaller halls, conference rooms and offices, cafés and restaurants to relax and enjoy the inner decoration.Â
Celetná Street (Celetná ulice)
This street was named after the plaited bread rolls that were first baked here in the Middle Ages. The Celetná Street is a pedestrianised lane from the Old Town square to the Powder Tower. There are lots of architecturally and historically important houses, such as At the Three Kings, At the White Lion, At the Black Sun and At the Vulture. The most interesting one is the Cubist facade on the House of the Black Madonna, which dates only from 1912 and houses a branch of the Czech Museum of Fine Arts with a permanent exhibition on Czech Cubism.Â
Estates Theatre (Stavovské divadlo)
This theatre was built in 1783. It is Prague"s oldest theatre and one of the finest examples of Neo-classicism. Renamed the Tyl Theatre after World War II in honour of the 19th century Czech play writer Josef Kajetán Tyl, its name reverted to Stavovské divadlo in 1990s.Â
Mozart"s opera ð€ÇDon Giovannið€Ý had its premiere there on 29th October 1834.Â
Carolinum (Karolinum)
Founded by Emperor Charles IV on 7th April 1348, it is the oldest university north of the Alps. Thousands of German students left the university in 1420 when the reform preacher Jan Hus became rector. Today the Charles University has faculties all over Prague and the Carolinum houses only some medical faculty offices, the University Club and occasional academic ceremonies.Â
Old Town Square (Starom?stské nám?stÃ)
Being Prague"s heart since the 10th century and its main market place until the beginning of the 20th century, the spacious 1.7 hectare Old Town Square has been the scene of great events, both glorious and tragic. There are beautiful pastel-coloured buildings of Romanesque or Gothic origin with fascinating house signs. Some of the most prominent examples include the Kinsky Palace, the House of the Stone Bell and the Storch House. Today, the Old Town Square offers visitors a tourist information office, number of restaurants, cafés, shops, galleries and charming hotels.