Old Town Square
Old Town Square is the beating historic heart of Prague, a sprawling, vibrant plaza that has hosted everything from medieval markets to royal executions, and is completely surrounded by a stunning mix of pastel-colored Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque architecture.
Old Town Square
Old Town Square’s focal point is the towering, 14th-century Old Town Hall, famous for the magnificent Astronomical Clock, while the dramatic, soaring black spires of the Church of Our Lady before Týn dominate the skyline on the opposite side.
Photo by Tomas Tuma
Prague Astronomical Clock
The Prague Astronomical Clock (Orloj), installed in 1410 on the Old Town Hall, is the third-oldest astronomical clock in the world and the oldest one still operating, featuring a complex, multi-layered astrolabe dial that tracks the sun, the moon, the zodiac, and even the medieval Bohemian concept of time. Every hour, massive crowds gather below to watch its famous, 15th-century mechanical ‘Walk of the Apostles’ and the dancing figures of Death ringing a bell, reminding onlookers of their mortality.
Photo by Tomas Tuma
Kinský Palace
The Kinský Palace, located on Old Town Square, is a breathtaking Rococo palace from 1765 that boasts a stunning pink-and-white facade, considered one of the finest examples of late Baroque architecture in Prague. Over its long history, the palace has served as a noble residence, a German grammar school attended by a young Franz Kafka, and today, it is part of the National Gallery.
Photo by Tomas Tuma
House at the Minute
The House at the Minute (Dům U Minuty) on Old Town Square is instantly recognizable by its striking, incredibly detailed black-and-white sgraffito facade from the early 17th century, depicting classical mythology and biblical scenes. It’s also famous as the childhood home of writer Franz Kafka, whose family lived in an apartment here from 1889 to 1896, right next to the Astronomical Clock.
Photo by Tomas Tuma
Jan Hus Memorial
The Jan Hus Memorial is a massive, incredibly powerful Art Nouveau bronze and stone monument dominating the center of Old Town Square, dedicated to the legacy of Jan Hus, the fiery Czech religious reformer and national hero. Unveiled in 1915, precisely 500 years after Hus was burned at the stake for challenging the Catholic Church, its towering, somber figures have long served as a symbol of Czech resistance, independence, and resilience.
Photo by Tomas Tuma