t Church of Our Lady Before Týn rising above Old Town Square
t Church of Our Lady Before Týn rising above Old Town Square
Experience Staré Město
The heart of the city is the Staré Město (Old Town) and its central square. It is a lively place, with cafés, clubs, restaurants and theatres that keep the quarter buzzing around the clock.
In the 11th century, the settlements around the castle spread to the right bank of the Vltava and the Old Town was created. A market-place in what is now Old Town Square (Staroměstské náměstí) was mentioned for the first time in 1091. Houses and churches sprang up around the square, determining the random network of cobbled streets, many of which survive to this day. The area gained the privileges of a town in the 13th century, and, in 1338, a town hall. This and other great buildings, such as Clam-Gallas Palace and the Municipal House, reflect the importance of the Old Town.