Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Old Town
Square
Over the centuries,
this now placid square
at the heart of the city
has witnessed hun-
dreds of executions,
political capitulations
and, more recently of
course, riotous ice
hockey celebrations, a
sport about which
Czechs are fanatical.
Today, the action is
more likely to come
from the crowds of
tourists and Praguers,
enjoying a coffee or a
beer at one of the
numerous pavement
cafés. Dominated by
the splendid Church of Our Lady
before T†n, the square is always
buzzing; in winter and summer,
it's a wonderful place to watch
the world go by
(see pp14-17)
.
Church of Our Lady before T†n, Old Town Square
star Art Nouveau attraction. One
of its most beautiful and striking
features is Karel ◊pillar's mosaic
above the main entrance,
entitled
Homage to Prague
. It
also has a firm place in history
as it was from the Municipal
House that Czechoslovakia was
declared an independent state in
1918. Today, it is home to
restaurants, cafés, exhibition
halls, shops and the Prague
Symphony Orchestra.
d
Nám∂stí
Republiky 5 • Map P3 • 222 002121
• Open 10am-6pm daily • Adm
Municipal House
National Revival artist Alfons
Mucha was one of many to lend
his talents to the Municipal
House
(Obecní D∞m)
, Prague's
Powder Gate
In the 15th century, King
Vladislav II laid the corner-stone
for this tower at the city's east-
ern gate, intended to comple-
ment the Royal Court nearby.
Used to store gunpowder in the
17th century, hence the name,
the tower was damaged during
attacks by Prussian forces in
1757. The Neo-Gothic façade
seen today, with its sculptural
decoration, dates from 1876.
d
Nám∂stí Republiky • Map P4 • Open
Apr-Oct: 10am-6pm daily • Adm
Powder Gate
73
