Old-Town Square, Prague

this rococo palace was designed by kilian ignaz dientzenhofer. the palace was bought from the golz family by the imperial diplomat stepan kinsky in 1768. the prague national gallery now uses the palace for temporary art exhibitions.

located next to the church of our lady before tyn is the house of the stone bell. this is the best preserved gothic palace in prague. it was built in the second half of the 13th century. the facade of the house is fashioned after a northern french court lodge.

the old town square is located in the heart of central prague. pictured is the jan hus monument in the center of the square. this square is one of the most beautiful in europe. the must see sites are the old town hall, the church of our lady before tyn, and the church of st. nicholas. the square is lined with beautiful romanesque, renaissance, and rococo buildings.

Your Praha vacation adventure should include visits to old town square during daylight hours and after dark. This part of Prague is heavily touristed until long into the night, and there is no need to be concerned about your safety provided that you take reasonable precautions. Sv Nicklaus church which adjoins the great square, stages nightly concerts. There are many theatrical performances, musical performances of virtually all genres, and other entertainment events performed nightly, at or near the square. The entertainment of course ranges from excellent to pathetic.

Shown in the night time photo is the front of the square dominating Our Lady Before Tyn church, and a few of the magnificent Renaissance era buildings that proudly frame the towering Gothic era stone church. Don't you agree that the fortress like monolithic Gothic church looks a little spooky in the dark. Don't worry, because the ancient church has been declared to be totally free of goblins and witches. Darn it anyway, because I was really hoping for something haunted.

Old town square contains a magnificent monument to religious reformer Jan Hus, whose disciples founded the Hussite Church, known also as the Evangelical Church. Adjoining kostel Sv Nicklaus is now a Hussite church. There is a popular fable circulating around Prague that Hus was burned to the stake at the site where the monument is now located. He was indeed burned to the stake at Kostel Sv Vavrice on Petrin Hill, where all of these most gruesome executions took place. See my Sv Vavrice tip for details.

Much more to come. Old hund is just getting wound up.

The Old Town Square was founded in the 10 th century as a place, where various goods from faraway countries were sold. It had many names during the centuries: the oldest known name is the Big Square, then it was the Old Market in the 13 th century, later for example The Old Town Place or the Large Old Town Square. The present name is from the end of the 19 th century.

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Our Lady Before Tyn (Panna Marie pred Tynem)

In the 11th century this area was occupied by a romanesque church, which was replaced by an early gothic Church of Our Lady in front of Tyn in 1256.

The most impressive gothic sacral building in Prague the construction of which lasted from the mid-14th to the early 16th century. In the late 17th century the church interior was rebuilt in the baroque style. Its interesting decorations include valuable altar paintings by Karel Skreta and a tombstone of the astronomer Tycho de Brahe. At present renovation of a part of the interior is in progress.

Provides an oasis from the crowded streets, and serves as the home of the great Astronomical Clock. A great mix of architectural styles can be observed simply by standing in the middle of the square. My favorite time to walk through here was at night - the crowds had died down and the colored lighting on the buildings was beautiful!

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Stone Bell House (Dum U Kamenneho zvonu) is located in the heart of the city – at the Old-Town Square (Staromestske namesti), in front of Church of Our Lady before Tyn (Kostel Matky Bozi Pred Tynem). It owes its name to the facade decoration – the bell appearing from the corner of the building. Stone Bell House dates back to second half the 13th century, but it was rebuilt in the 14th century as a gothic palace, and many architectural elements from that period, including two chapels with sculptures and painted decoration, were preserved.

Nowadays Stone Bell House is one of the most attractive spaces used for exhibitions of modern and contemporary art.

Open: Tuesday – Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.