Category: Europe (Page 8 of 9)

The Old Town Square is one of my favorite locations in Prague!  I could go back to this place every day.  It is a busy place where you can watch people all day and into the evening.

The Square is the center of the Old Town, one of four towns that now make up Prague.  Major landmarks within the Square include the Church of Our Lady before Týn, the Church of St. Nicholas, the Jan Hus statue and the Old Town Hall with its famous Astronomical Clock.

Jan Hus Memorial

Standing prominently in the middle of the Square is a statue of Jan Hus.  He is often compared to Martin Luther, but 100 years earlier.  Hus was a priest who attempted to reform the Catholic Church, but was burned at the stake for heresy.  His bravery and willingness to stand against corruption transformed him into a Czech national hero.  You will see the image of this cherished priest around town and throughout the Czech Republic, such as in the artistic masterpiece the Slav Epic by Alfons Mucha.

Church of Our Lady before Týn

The Church of our Lady before Týn, aka the Týn Church, is absolutely beautiful!  The spires make you feel like you are in a fairy tale.  I just loved looking up at them.  I had not seen anything like this church before in real life.  The entrance is very interesting.  It appears as if the property in front of the church was sold at some time.  As a result, you cannot see the lower part of the church.  To enter the church, a narrow walkway between the buildings leads you to the front door.

Astronomical Clock

The most popular site in the square is the Astronomical Clock.  It is on the south side of the Town Hall Tower. The oldest parts of the clock are from 1410!  At the top of every hour, two doors open and Jesus’ twelve apostles make an appearance while a skeleton rings a bell.  The spectacle concludes with a rooster crowing.   We felt completely safe in the Czeck Republic–however, while around the Clock, be aware.  While you are looking up at the clock, packed together in a crowd, you may not pay attention to your belongings.  This is a perfect opportunity for pick pockets to work.  If you have a bag, put it on your chest and wrap your arms around the important zippers and you should be good.  Also, do not leave anything of value in your back pockets.  This is a general smart travel tip.  Now, enjoy the scene!  You can also climb the tower for a good view of the Square.

There are tons of restaurants on the Old Town Square.  Between the Old Town tower and the Church of St. Nicholas, there are food carts that smelled tasty.  We enjoyed a late dinner at Al Minuto Ristorante, an Italian restaurant that shared the wall of the Astronomical Clock.  The Staropramen beer they served was cold and refreshing and the pizza was delicious.  When the server put the pizza on the table, it was gone in a minute!

Detail of Astronomical Clock

From the Square, you can catch a tour or book tickets for a concert.

To get to the Old Town Square from the New Town, follow the main road through the Powder Tower.  If you are coming from the Little Quarter, cross the Vltava River at the Charles Bridge and follow the main road east.  A short walk north from the Old Town Square is the Jewish Quarter, another great area to explore.