Great Prague landmarks; two Town Halls
August 6th 2008 02:48
The Old Town Hall
The Old Town Hall in Prague's Old Town Square, was built in 1338, under King John of Luxembourg, to house Prague’s first city council. Later in the 14th century the 69.5 metre tower, with its extraordinary astronomical clock, were added. Along with the rest of Prague, the Old Town Hall was renovated in the Neo-Gothic Style when King Vladimir Jagellon took the throne in the 15th century.
The building was partially destroyed by the bombings in the last days of World War II. Curiously, the reconstructed section looks older than the original.
Today the Old Town Hall is a popular tourist attraction. Visitors can make their own souvenir coins in the tower chamber or climb to the top to enjoy some of the best Prague vistas. Down on the street below, day and night crowds gather to watch as the spectacular astronomical clock strikes the hour.
The New Town Hall
The first New Town Hall, in Charles Square, was built in 1377. However, little remains of the original mediaeval building. At the beginning of the 15th century the high tower was added to house the bell and a chapel. In the 16th century, under the Hapsburgh Kings Ferdinand and Rudolph, the south wing was re-built in the Renaissance style.
The New Town Hall served mainly as the centre for Municipal administration with conference meeting chambers and offices. It also housed a prison and a torture chamber.
In the 15th century the New Town Hall was the scene of a pivotal piece of Czech history. On 30th July 1419, Jan Zelivsky led a demonstration at the New Town Hall to demand the release of followers of the protestant dissident Jan Hus, who were imprisoned there. When their demands were refused the outraged demonstrators stormed the building and threw the councillors out of the windows. Those who survived were beaten to death. This First Prague Defenestration began the Hussite movement, a campaign for reform in the Catholic Church, which led eventually to the Hussite Wars. Thereafter the practice of defenestration became a means of dealing with uncooperative administrators.
The New Town Hall served as the seat of the municipal administration until 1784 when the Emperor Josef II. amalgamated the four Prague towns – Old Town, the Lesser Town, Hradcany and the New Town – under one municipal council. Thereafter the New Town Hall was given over to a criminal courthouse, a torture chamber and a prison where many political prisoners and revolutionaries were incarcerated.
Now a national heritage centre, the building is used for many cultural and social events such as official functions and weddings.
Charles Square, once a muddy wasteland, is now a verdant park, filled with statues of famous Czech figures, where the people of Prague enjoy their leisure time.
The Old Town Hall in Prague's Old Town Square, was built in 1338, under King John of Luxembourg, to house Prague’s first city council. Later in the 14th century the 69.5 metre tower, with its extraordinary astronomical clock, were added. Along with the rest of Prague, the Old Town Hall was renovated in the Neo-Gothic Style when King Vladimir Jagellon took the throne in the 15th century.
The Old Town Hall
The building was partially destroyed by the bombings in the last days of World War II. Curiously, the reconstructed section looks older than the original.
The Old Town Hall Tower with the Astronomical Clock
Today the Old Town Hall is a popular tourist attraction. Visitors can make their own souvenir coins in the tower chamber or climb to the top to enjoy some of the best Prague vistas. Down on the street below, day and night crowds gather to watch as the spectacular astronomical clock strikes the hour.
The New Town Hall
The first New Town Hall, in Charles Square, was built in 1377. However, little remains of the original mediaeval building. At the beginning of the 15th century the high tower was added to house the bell and a chapel. In the 16th century, under the Hapsburgh Kings Ferdinand and Rudolph, the south wing was re-built in the Renaissance style.
The New Town Hall
The New Town Hall served mainly as the centre for Municipal administration with conference meeting chambers and offices. It also housed a prison and a torture chamber.
The Old Town Hall
In the 15th century the New Town Hall was the scene of a pivotal piece of Czech history. On 30th July 1419, Jan Zelivsky led a demonstration at the New Town Hall to demand the release of followers of the protestant dissident Jan Hus, who were imprisoned there. When their demands were refused the outraged demonstrators stormed the building and threw the councillors out of the windows. Those who survived were beaten to death. This First Prague Defenestration began the Hussite movement, a campaign for reform in the Catholic Church, which led eventually to the Hussite Wars. Thereafter the practice of defenestration became a means of dealing with uncooperative administrators.
The New Town Hall served as the seat of the municipal administration until 1784 when the Emperor Josef II. amalgamated the four Prague towns – Old Town, the Lesser Town, Hradcany and the New Town – under one municipal council. Thereafter the New Town Hall was given over to a criminal courthouse, a torture chamber and a prison where many political prisoners and revolutionaries were incarcerated.
Now a national heritage centre, the building is used for many cultural and social events such as official functions and weddings.
Charles Square, once a muddy wasteland, is now a verdant park, filled with statues of famous Czech figures, where the people of Prague enjoy their leisure time.
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