Streets squares and districts to visit Czech Republic

These colourful doll's houses, leaning against the fortifications, successively sheltered the refugees from the Malá Straná fire in 1541 and the archers and gold drummers of Rudolph II, from whom the alley takes its name. Rebuilt under Maria Theresa, Zlatá Ulička is famous for having welcomed Kafka who sometimes came to write to No. 22. Jiřská Ulice: this street, the oldest in the castle, will allow you to leave the enclosure via the Black Tower, after walking along the Lobkowitz Palace.

Kampa is a real paradise and an oasis of rest, one of those that can only be found in the Malá Strana district. It is bounded by the Vltava River and a branch of the river, called the Čertovka. Its course once powered numerous mills. One of them, Štěpánovská, is now restored and working again. Čertovka means "the devil's spring" and a legend says that the name was given to it in the 19th century after a woman who had the character of a devil and lived near the island.

The park has been known since the Middle Ages. In the second half of the 15th century, the first houses were built here. After the fire in 1541 that ravaged this part of the city, the rubble from the houses was used to reinforce the river banks. The place was very famous in the 17th century for its pottery markets. Many of the picturesque houses in the area date from this period. Most of the island is occupied by the park, which was created by transforming the gardens of the old palaces in the 19th century, the time when parks were democratized as a place for walking. Passing the island, take the small footbridge that connects it with Velkopčevorské Square, dominated by the French Embassy, you will see the last working mill on this island. It is made of wood and dates from 1598. In winter when the snow and the sun pass the baton, the icicles turn it into a real miracle of nature.

It's more of an avenue than a square. It must be recognized that with its 750 m length and 60 m width, it has the dimensions! It is a major commercial axis, a little too much so, since neon advertising tends to invade its facades. So, to fully appreciate it, you have to go up or down it by the middle promenade, between the traffic lanes, and, above all, look up to appreciate the superb buildings that border it. But it is the passages on the ground floor that are most surprising. With a great architectural coherence despite the diversity of styles, the square is dominated by the very imposing National Museum (Národní muzeum) which closes the perspective to the east. In the background too, the flow of cars on the "masterful". This absurd urban highway, built in the 1970s for "pragmatic urban control" purposes, causes a gap in the urban fabric that various development plans are now seeking to erase. Wenceslas Square remains full of recent and distant historical memories. Until 1983, trams operated on the square, which is now reserved for authorized vehicles.

Equestrian statue of Saint Wenceslas. It is always at the foot of this statue, at the foot of the museum, that demonstrations, petitions or improvised public debates are organised. The equestrian statue of the saint, a bronze made in 1912 by the "national sculptor" Myslbeck, is a copy. The original work is located in Vyšehrad Park.

Memorial to Jan Palach and Jan Zajíc. Not far from the statue of St. Wenceslas, a memorial marks the site where student Jan Palach set himself on fire in 1969 to protest against the invasion by Warsaw Pact troops. A cross was also installed in 2000 to honour his memory. Below, on the balcony of the Melantrichova building, Havel spoke on a certain day in November 1989, and it was the Velvet Revolution.

The Lucerna Palace (Palác Lucerna) and its passage. Among the passages of the square, the Lucerna passage is the most spectacular. Dating from the early 20th century, this gallery designed by Václav Havel (grandfather of former President Václav Havel) is a fine example of Art Nouveau. It is here, under the dome, that you can admire David's curious creation Černý : Kůň Considered by some to be a parody of Wenceslas' statue, this is a knight sitting on the belly of his overthrown horse.

Art nouveau and Art deco. Some of the buildings that border the square are remarkable for their architecture. On the square, halfway up the hill, the facade of the former hotel of the Grand Hotel Europa will take you back to the Austro-Hungarian empire of the beginning of the century. A prestigious example of the Prague Secession, down to the smallest detail, from the arabesques of balconies to those of interior staircase railings, everything is refined. In the same style, the Koruna Palace, at the corner of Wenceslas Square and Na Příkopě, takes its name from the canteen that was installed there and where you could have lunch for 1 Kč, a long time ago. Look up at the monumental statues of Sucharda, leaning against the chimneys of the palace. Prague's narrowest, the facade of the Koruna, on the Na side Příkopě, is a marvel of lines and proportions that announces the Art Deco style.

Built in the early 16th century, this street starts at Svornosti Square and leads to the Regional Museum. It is lined with beautiful houses from different periods and architectural styles, which we will take the time to detail. We will stop in front of the Růže (Rose) Hotel at number 59. It is a former Jesuit seminary dating from the late 16th century. Just across the street, a large terrace offers a breathtaking view of the castle.

This street has kept an almost unspoilt historical atmosphere, dominated by Baroque houses and palaces. It was named after the poet Jan Neruda, who spent his youth there and followed the royal road, which led the kings to the castle at the time of their coronation. It was once the main communication route to Prague Castle, and today the shops are well integrated, leaving the past behind. Most of the houses carry signs that indicated the profession or origin of their occupants at a time when the street lots were not yet numbered. Thus you will pass successively in front of the house Aux trois violons (U tří houslišek), at number 12, property of the famous violin maker T. Edlinger; A la coupe d'or (U zlaté číše), at number 16, whose sign refers to the former owner, the goldsmith B. Schumann. Baroque palaces are nowadays the headquarters of foreign embassies. Thus, the Morzin Palace, at No. 5, now the Romanian Embassy, is the work of Santini (1713-1714). Two spectacular Moors, sculpted by F.-M. Brokof, support a low balcony and two magnificent portals, allegories of day and night, adorn the façade. The Thun-Hohenstein Palace, at No. 20, now the Italian Embassy, was built on a project by Santini. Two stone carved eagles, made by M. B. Braun, frame the portal. Some houses have become hotels, so don't hesitate to come in to see the inside.

This busy street, parallel to the old ramparts, leads to Wenceslas Square, passing in front of the central post office. At the other end is the Jindrisska Tower, built in the 15th century. It was successively watchtower and bell tower of the Saint-Henri church. Among the most notable buildings on the street, the one housing the central post office (whose main hall is superb). In the typical Prague Secession style, the Mucha Museum is also a few steps away.

Shorter than the Diana funicular, it will take you to the most massive hotel in town, from where you can enjoy a great view of the valley. To tell the truth, it is especially interesting if you stay at the hotel. But the view is so beautiful from the hotel that we recommend you to take the funicular and have a tea or refreshment in the Belle Époque lounges during the sunset. A splendid view is guaranteed.

It was born from the junction of two traffic axes, hence its curious shape of elongated trapezium. But today only pedestrians circulate there: the place is calm, bewitching. The undulation allows to see the square in a different way. It owes its complicated name to the lord who built the castle in the 16th century (his figure adorns the labels and glasses of the local beer). Fortunately, you don't have to pronounce it correctly to enjoy this unique place. The long arcade that goes almost around the square embellishes the place considerably. Each house deserves to be detailed. The Renaissance or Baroque facades follow one another, colored, decorated with sgraffiti sometimes and topped by gables all different (triangular, rounded, pointed, staircase...), as beautiful as the others: you will admire magnificent paintings on the pillars and oriels (for example at n° 15 of the square), sgraffiti of the most beautiful work (n° 61), trompe-l'oeil (the unmistakable green house, all twisted and so different from the others), bossages (n° 12, 54 and 55), a real treat for the eyes. Some facades seem disproportionate to the buildings they hide: thus at n° 47, 54 or 55. The town hall stands on the western side of the square. It is a beautiful small Renaissance building, with 4 bays, born from the junction of Gothic houses. On the south side of the square, we can see a column of the Plague and a fountain (18th century).

On this small triangular square (that's what its name means), you will notice the baroque facades or the beautiful Renaissance grid that surrounds the well. The latter is dominated by the Bohemian lion. At No. 3, Rott's neo-Renaissance style house, covered with sgraffitoes, was built by Mikolaš Aleš and still houses the city's largest (now "luxury") hardware store. Patterns decorating the façade evoke the goods on offer.

This prestigious avenue, which runs from Staroměstské Náměstí towards the Čechův Most bridge, owes its name to the Parisian model of Haussmann breakthroughs. This elegant succession of tall buildings harmoniously blends historical elements with Art Nouveau ornamentation. Of particular note is no. 19, a handsome Secession building by Bedřich Bendelmayer. No. 15 is a stunning neo-Gothic building by M. Blecha (1906). The Art Nouveau-style interior staircase is remarkable.

The Church of the Sacred Heart (kostel Srdce Páně, 1933) is an incredible blend of classicism, Art Nouveau and functionalism. The church's aircraft carrier shape and huge clock surprised many at its inauguration, but the building was eventually adopted by the residents. The square (Náměstí Jiřího z Poděbrad), against the backdrop of Žižkov's futuristic tower, has become a friendly place to stroll. Animations take place there, in particular flea markets.

National Avenue extends the Old Town-New Town boundary all the way to the National Theatre and the Vltava River. This artery begins with a surprising rondo-cubist building, the Adria Palace, built in the 1920s by Janák and Zasche, while further along is the glass cube of the Nová Scéna, whose median strip is a delight for skateboarders. The Magic Lantern show takes place inside its curious walls of opaque glass paving stones.

The John Lennon wall has gone through various phases since the first tributes to the singer, in the form of frescoes and graffiti, in 1980. In the last years of the communist period, it became a space of protest expression. Repainted in 1989, the graffiti started again very quickly, but without any real link with the ex-Beatles, nor with the protest of a dictatorial regime. Renovated in 2021, a small museum with free access now allows you to see these messages from the past in photos.

The "upper square" is the center of the city, the square where all the nice pedestrian streets inevitably end. It is also the oldest square in the city, as the dates of construction of the surrounding buildings testify. It is the starting and ending point of all your walks in the city and is surrounded by beautiful mansions, including the richly decorated Edelmann Palace and the Petras and Salm Palaces, all of which bear witness to Olomouc's Baroque architectural élan. As in the Lower Square, monumental fountains dot three sides: Caesar's Fountain (1724, by Schuberger) is the most monumental in the square, with the arms of Moravia and Lower Austria, Caesar, the gods of the Danube and the Moravian River, and a dog symbolizing Olomouc's fidelity to the emperor; Hercules Fountain (1688, by M. Mandík) is the oldest, with the checkered eagle, the symbol of Olomouc, and the Arion Fountain (2002, by I. Theimer) is the most recent. It represents Arion, the Greek singer thrown into the water by thieves and saved by a dolphin. But the highlight of the square is of course the Holy Trinity Column, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, so imposing that it houses a small chapel in its base. The Place Haute is a great place for festive gatherings, especially at the end of the year when dozens of Christmas market stalls invade the smallest free space.

The junction point between Nove Mesto and the popular districts of Vinohrady and Žižkov, Place de la Paix is dominated by the Sainte-Ludmilla brick church, easily recognizable by its two high towers. Relatively recent, it was built in a neo-Gothic style by J. Mocker. Its long renovation in the early 2010 has made it possible to make a large part of the square pedestrian-friendly and much more peaceful and friendly.

The space now reserved for merchants is just a small reminder of the great medieval market that covered the area now occupied by Ovocný Trh and Rytířská. This remains Prague's most photogenic market. You'll find greengrocers, craftsmen, florists and, above all, souvenir sellers of all kinds. This beautiful space is enclosed by the Church of St. Gall (kostel Svatého Havla), the largest of the Old Town's four parishes and home to the Hussite movement.

In the centre of this pretty triangular square, a pretty classic style fountain decorated with wine-growing motifs: cups and bunches of grapes in a cascade. No link with its function, since it hosted a coal market, as its name suggests. This small square is marked by the sign of music: Mozart stayed in the house Aux trois oies d'or, at number 1. At night, it is lit by replicas of the original 1867 streetlights.

The jewel in the crown of the city is the beautiful and huge central square. In the center of the square stands the high Samson Fountain (Samsonova kašna), built in 1727 in the purest Baroque style to supply the city with water from the nearby Vltava. Around the square are 48 beautiful late Gothic and Renaissance bourgeois houses with arches. An enchantment of forms and colors that further enhances the square and makes the inhabitants proud. Among them, one can easily recognize, thanks to its three towers and its coats of arms, the town hall (radnice - 1555) of Renaissance style, restored in baroque. Its facade is decorated with bronze gargoyles, coats of arms and various bas-reliefs (by Martinelli - 1731) that you can detail at your leisure. Between the towers, statues symbolize the bourgeois virtues of the time: courage, prudence, justice and wisdom. The pretty little St. Nicholas Cathedral (katedrála Sv. Mikuláše), built in the 13th century and enlarged in the 17th and 18th centuries, also overlooks the square. The fountain, the pavement, the arcades, are, of course, the meeting place of the city, a large open stage. Finally, you should not forget to visit the Budvar brewery (see box) and, in the summer, it is hard not to have a beer and a sausage in the parks along the canals and rivers that surround the old center. You will find all the inhabitants there..

The center of the old town is the almost triangular (you can see a deformed trapezoid) King George's Square in Podebrad (Náměstí kralé Jiřího z Poděbrad). Discovering, at the turn of a street, its colorful houses from various eras is an enchantment. As around many squares in the Czech Republic, the architecture displays a great diversity of styles and periods, without this detracting from the harmony of the whole, particularly successful in this case. The houses with high pointed roofs and characteristic mansards are charming and each one deserves a few minutes of attention for its architectural details, windows, sashes or sgraffiti. The colors of the blue, yellow, sienna or pink facades create a patchwork on which the eye glides with ease from one building to another.

The inhabitants themselves come to contemplate them, from the two fountains of the square, representing Hercules and the knight Roland. The square was once the site of a large market.

In the northern part of the square, in the lower part, there is a small detached block of houses. This is the Špalíček ("block"), a collection of small houses and stores of Jewish merchants from the 16th century. This tiny complex is traversed by an alley and would have developed from the market stalls of the time, which would have gradually lost their temporary character.

Taking Kamenná Street (north of the square), one quickly reaches the Church of St. Wenceslas (Kostel Sv. Václava), which was once used for the ceremonies of a Dominican monastery. The Church of St. Nicholas (Kostel Sv. Mikuláše), which can be reached by taking Kodtelní Street to the north of the square, is a Gothic church remodeled in the 18th century by the famous architect Balthasar Neumann, a native of Cheb. Continuing along the same street, we reach the Church of St. Bartholomew (Sv. Bartoloměj). It dates back to the 15th century and now houses an exhibition of Gothic art.

To the south of King George of Podbrad Square. Františkánske Square is reached via Provaznická or Jateční Street, then Dlouhá, southwest of the main square. It is surrounded by two interesting churches. The first one, on the east side, is a small Baroque gem by Christoph Dientzenhofer. Dedicated to St. Clare (Sv. Klára), it was the main place of worship of a former monastery. Opposite it is the Gothic church with a long name: the Church of the Annunciation of the Virgin Mary (kostel Zvěstování Panny Marie).