The Old Town Square (Staroměstské náměstí)

Everybody knows that Prague is a historical city. But the Old Town Square (Staroměstské náměstí) is unusual in its historical imprint even in Prague. This is kind of an open museum, where you can spend half a day without being slightly bored. Dating back to the late 12th century, the Old Town Square served as the central marketplace in Prague in the Middle Ages. During the Middle ages, many buildings of Romanesque, Baroque and Gothic styles have erected around the market; each one with its own significance and history.

The most famous symbol of the Old Town Square – and probably of the entire city – is the Astronomical Clock. You can hardly find any website dedicated to Prague with no picture of this late medieval clock, and this blog isn’t an exception.

The Astronomical Clock is composed of the main dial that shows the Prague’s time, and an additional dial with zodiac signs, representing the stars’ setting and the Sun and Moon Position. As for the Clock, I recommend visiting the square at the top of every hour and watching the Astronomical Clock. Doing so, you’ll be able to see “The Walk of the Apostles” - a clockwork hourly show of the Apostles figures and other moving sculptures. At the same time, figures symbolizing Death, Vanity, Greed, and the Ottoman Invader start to move with the sound of the bells. You can also come a little bit earlier and sit in the café just opposite the Clock to take a closer look.

At the center of the Old Town Square is the Jan Hus statue. Hus was a Czech preacher, who turned into the leader of the reform movement in Bohemia. Jan Hus was excommunicated from the church for his attempt to lead a moral reform in the church and criticize the tradition of. He was condemned at 1414 and burned at the stake on July 6, 1415.

In the southern side of the square you will be able to recognize some houses, Baroque and older, with house signs that served in the past to identify houses. I managed to recognize the House of the Blue Star, the House of the Golden Unicorn and the House of the Stone Table.

The other notable sights in Prague’s Old Town Square are the Church of Our Lady before Tyn (the magnificent Gothic church with a baroque interior, established at 1385) and the St. Nicolas Church.

 the Old Town Square (Staroměstské náměstí) can be accessed by foot from Jewish Quarter, Charles River Bridge(Karlův most), and Wenceslas Square(Václavské náměstí).