The Jewish Quarter
The remaining structures from the old Jewish Ghetto, demolished in 1896, include the Old-New Synagogue from the 13th century, the oldest preserved synagogue in central Europe, and the exeptional Jewish Cemetery that was in use between the 15th and 18th centuries. Amongst the twenty thousand gravestones, you can find the grave of the celebrated Raddi Löwe, reputed to have created the legendary Golem - an artificial man - here during the Rudolphine era. The rich collections of the Jewish Museum document the often troubled history of Judaism in Bohemia.
Pařížská ulice (Paris Street), in particular, holds The Rudolphinum and has been a sanctuary of the arts since 1883, when it was built to honour the visit of Crowne Prince Rudolph, son of Emperor Franz Joseph. Josef Zítek and Josef Schulz, schief architects of the Czech National Theatre, built it.
Founded by Agnes Přemyslid in 1234 for Franciscans and Poor Clares, the most famous of the Old Town monasteries, St. Agnes Convent on Na Františku, holds the impressive Collection of Medieval Art of the National Gallery.
The Štorch House, with frescoes by Mikoláš Aleš in a style that links Art Nouveau with the Neo-Renaissance tradition of the National revival, stands on the boundary of Old Town Square and Celetná Street. A jewel of modern architecture made between 1909 and 1911 - the Cubist House at the Black Mother of God by jodef Gočár majestically spreads out in the middle of Celetná Street on the corner of the Fruit Market and witnessed the celebrated premiere of Mozart's Don Giovanni in 1787.
A diverse complex of university buildings bordering on Celetná Street form the Carolinum. They are mainly clad with facades from the Baroque or 19th century, but many interiors conceal a Gothic core. Charles University, the oldest in central Europe, was founded by Charles IV in 1348. The core of the whole block is the Rothlev Building, which Wenceslas IV gave to the university in 1383. Since 1611, the rectory of the university has remained here.
Celetná Street runs into the Late Gothic Prašná brána (Powder Gate) built in 1475. This structure clearly illustrates how the Jagiellonians wished to compete with the Luxembourg dynasty. The Powder Gate nearly adjoins The Royal Court, which used to be the favourite private residence of Bohemian rulers. Later, it became the Obecní dům (Municipal House). Built in 1911, this is a perfect example of Prague Art Nouveau, and is still a lively cultural centre that features many highly acclaimed exhibits.
The Coronation Path of the Bohemian Kings runs through the western and south-western parts of the Old Town and connects Vyšehrad Castle with Prague. The Romanesque Rotunda of the Holy Cross from the 11th century is one of the many treasures that are to be found along this way.
The Bethlehem Chapel, demolished in 1786, and rebuilt in 1953, was where the reformer Jan Hus preached.
Built on Křížovnické náměstí (Křížovnické Square) in 1556, a Jesuit college, later called the Clementinum in honour of St. Clement Cathedral, grew into an extensive complex following the Thirty Year's war. The Baroque-styled interiors of the cathedral with its Mirror Chapel or the Library and Mathematical Hal, illustrate the development of Baroque art in Bohemia in the early 19th century. The Clementinum also served as a library. The present-day National Library continues this tradition, containing more than six million volumes and a large collection of precious medieval manuscripts.
The San Salvador Church, part of the Clementinum, connects to the Italian Chapel. Built from 1590 to 1597, it is the oldest European cathedral built on an elliptical ground plan. Italian architects ot the time could only dream of what their Italian colleagues put into practice during the reign of Rudolf II.
Wenceslas I founded Havelské město (Havel's town) in 1234. Originally designed to be an isolated new market place, its privileges also expanded to cover the older settlement. Havel's town became the main municipal market place and it still serves this function today. During the reign of Charles IV, a gigantic basilica served as a kind of medieval department store in this area. The remains of its central nave on V Kotcích Street are lined with Gothic arcades, where you will still find a permanent market.
