Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
M
∞
stek
The area at the bottom of
Wenceslas Square takes its name
from the “Little Bridge” that
spanned the moat here in
medieval times. Below the
surface, at the top of the
escalators descending to the train
platform, you'll find the remains
of that bridge, uncovered by
workers building the metro.
Karlovo nám∂stí
Národní t∫ída
The end of Communism in
Czechoslovakia began midway
between the National Theatre
and what is now the Tesco
supermarket. On 17 November
1989, police put a brutal end to a
pro-democracy march as it made
its way to Wenceslas Square. A
plaque under the arcade at
Národní 20 marks where marchers
and truncheons met.
d
Map L6
take in one of the operas staged
here; good picks are Smetana's
Libu√e
, which debuted on this
stage, or Dvo∫ák's
The Devil and
Kate
. Next door is Laterna
Magika, where you can see
black-light productions
(see p64)
.
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Národní 2 • Map E4
The Globe Bookstore
and Coffeehouse
An expatriate institution, the
English-language Globe moved
here from its original home in
2000, leaving backpackers with
outdated guidebooks stranded in
Hole√ovice. The café is attracting
a local following
(see p112)
.
Chances are the people at the
next table are eager to talk to
you about their travels, for better
or worse.
d
P√trossova 6 • Map E5
National Theatre
Patriotic Czechs funded the
theatre's construction twice:
once in 1868 and again after fire
destroyed the building in 1883.
To see the stunning allegorical
ceiling frescoes and Vojt∂ch
Hynais' celebrated stage curtain,
Karlovo nám∂stí
Charles IV had his city plan-
ners build New Town's central
square to the same dimensions
as Jerusalem's. Originally a cattle
market, it's now a park popular
with dog-walkers. Among the
trees are monuments to such
luminaries as Eli√ka Krásnohorská,
who wrote libretti for Smetana's
operas. To the west, on Resslova,
is the Church of Sts Cyril and
Methodius. The members of the
Czech resistance, responsinble for
the assassination of Nazi leader
Reinhard Heydrich (1904-42), took
refuge here
(see p39)
.
d
Map F5
Auditorium, National Theatre
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