Old Town Square
Staroměstské náměstí
The great square of the Old Town, with the Týn church, the astronomical clock and the Jan Hus memorial.
The Old Town Square has been Prague’s market place since the 12th century. Around it stand the Old Town Hall with its clock, the Baroque church of St Nicholas, pastel palaces and the two spiky towers of the Týn church.
In the middle stands the memorial to Jan Hus, the reformer burned at the stake in 1415, unveiled in 1915. Twenty-seven white crosses in the paving mark where 27 Czech leaders were executed in 1621.
More in Prague
Astronomical clockMade in 1410: every hour the twelve apostles pass its little windows while Death rings his bell.
Týn ChurchThe Gothic church with two spiky 80-metre towers, behind the houses on the Old Town Square.
Charles BridgeThe stone bridge of 1357 across the Vltava, lined with thirty statues of saints.
Old Town Bridge TowerThe Gothic gate tower at the Old Town end of the Charles Bridge, one of the finest in Europe.
KlementinumThe vast Jesuit college beside the bridge, with a Baroque library hall and an astronomical tower.
JosefovPrague’s Jewish Quarter, with old synagogues and the Old Jewish Cemetery.
Old-New SynagogueBuilt around 1270, the oldest synagogue in Europe still in use.
RudolfinumThe neo-Renaissance concert hall on the Vltava, home of the Czech Philharmonic.
Powder TowerA Gothic gate tower of 1475 at the start of the Royal Route, once used to store gunpowder.
Prague CastleThe castle on the hill across the river, the largest ancient castle complex in the world; beyond this map.
TramsThe red and cream trams that rattle along the river and across the bridges.
Czech beerCzechs drink more beer per person than anyone; the pilsner was born in Bohemia.