CZ: Prague - Charles Square

The square, which was previously called the Cattle Market, gained its name after the Czech King Charles IV., and together with two other markets - Senným (today Senovážné Square) and Koňským (now Wenceslas Square) in 1348 co-formed into New Town. The present shape of the park, which had impressed landscape by architect Franz Thomayer, the square gained in the seventies of the 19th century, when was begin planting of vegetation (mainly lime trees). Park with more than 300 trees of 40 different types is protected as an urban conservation area. Grassy park area with old trees, narrow paths intersect, which are located along the benches, in the southern part is the newly built playground.

Then there you can find three monuments dedicated to famous Czech artists: Karolina Světlá  (in the form of Art Nouveau monument of granite and black marble), Eliška Krásnohorská (white marble statue of a life-size) and Vítězslav Hálek (bronze bust). In the northern and southern part of the square is a fountain located. Charles Square area crossed two busy streets: Žitná and Ječná, which are notionally divides the northern and southern parts. In point of view of city transport, there are several entrances same named Metro line "B", Karlovo náměstí also works as the most important and busiest transport hub tram in Prague (stops for 17 tram lines). Along the perimeter of the square is located a several important buildings.

At the very northern edge stands New Town Hall, which was also established thanks for initiative of Charles IV. as a "counterpart" to the Old Town. Right next to City Hall we can find classical building, where is a settle of the Municipal Court in Prague and the District Court for Prague 4. Around the middle of the square on its western side, on the corner of Resslova street stands the building of Czech technology, built in 1869. The house, which is uses by the Czech Technical University, is adjacent to the west of the Baroque Church of St. Cyril and Methodius, where hid the paratroopers who carried out the assassination of the then Reich Protector Heydrich. Opposite of Czech technology across the square you will find some major local landmark, the Jesuit College of New Town St. with church of St. Ignatius. In the middle of18th century, when the Jesuit system was canceled, the building worked as a barracks and then as a hospital - to serve this purpose today. The most expressive objects in the southern part of the square is one of Gothic-Renaissance house of Faust associated with the Faustian legend, and whose residents was for example Edward Kelley, an court alchemist of Emperor Rudolf II, and complex of buildings forming the General Teaching Hospital, which opened in 1790 and by successive architecturally valuable additions acquired its present format.

Charles Square has undergone many changes in few hundred years of its existence, whether urban or of meaning - although now is not serves as a place with the cattle market, but it is still one of the busiest places in the capital city Prague, surrounded by many historically interesting buildings.

Text and photo: J. Štantejský