Nove Mesto - The Rough Guide to Prague - page 165

Náměstí Republiky and around
Metro Náměstí Republiky
Náměstí Republiky , at the eastern end of Na příkopě, is an amorphous space and a major
tram and metro interchange, revamped and pedestrianized around a decade ago. It was at this
time that the east side gained Palladium , Prague's premier city-centre shopping mall, built
withinanoldarmybarracksandretainingitssalmon-pink,crenellatedfacade.DuringAdvent
the square hosts what many regard as the city's best Christmas market .
Prašná brána (Powder Gate)
Na Příkopě • Daily: April-Sept 10am-10pm; March & Oct 10am-8pm; Nov-Feb 10am-6pm • 90Kč • 725
847 875, muzeumprahy.cz • Metro Náměstí Republiky
By far the oldest structure on Náměstí Republiky is the Prašná brána , one of the eight me-
dieval gate-towers that once guarded Staré Město. The present tower was begun by King
Vladislav Jagiello in 1475, shortly after he'd moved into the royal court, which was situated
next door at the time (on the site of today's Obecní dům). Work stopped when he retreated to
the Hrad to avoid the wrath of his subjects; later on, it was used to store gunpowder - hence
the name. The small historical exhibition inside traces the tower's architectural metamorph-
osis from its earliest days up to its current remodelling, courtesy of the nineteenth-century
restorer Josef Mocker. There's always an interesting Prague-themed temporary exhibition on
here, but most people ignore the displays and scramble straight up for the modest view from
the top.
Obecní dům (Municipal House)
Náměstí Republiky 5 • Daily 10am-8pm • Tours 290Kč • 222 002 101, www.obecni-dum.cz • Metro
Náměstí Republiky
Attached to the Powder Gate on Náměstí Republiky, and built on the ruins of the old royal
court, the Obecní dům is by far the most exciting Art Nouveau building in Prague, and one
of the few places that still manages to conjure up the atmosphere of Prague's turn-of-the-
twentieth-century café society. Conceived as a cultural centre for the Czech community, it's
probably the finest architectural achievement of the Czech national revival, designed by Os-
vald Polívka and Antonín Balšánek , and extravagantly decorated inside and out with the
help of almost every artist connected with the Czech Secession. From the lifts to the cloak-
rooms,justaboutallthefurnishingsremainastheywerewhenthebuildingwascompletedin
1911,andeverysquarecentimetreoftheinteriorandexteriorhasbeenlovinglyrestored.Ap-
propriatelyenough,itwasherethatCzechoslovakia'sindependencewasdeclaredonOctober
28, 1918.
The simplest way of soaking up the interior - peppered with mosaics and pendulous brass
chandeliers - is to have a coffee in the cavernous café, or a full meal in the equally spacious
Francouzská restaurace ; there's also the cheaper Plzeňská restaurace in the cellar, along