9 Fun Facts You Should Know About the Old Town in Prague
The Old Town in Prague is certainly one of the most beautiful historical sites in Europe, full of amazing architecture and fascinating history! Holy Roman Emporer, Charles IV, is to thank for many magnificent monuments, such as Charles Bridge, Charles University and numerous churches and palaces, built mostly in the 14th century.
Tours are a great way to learn more about the Old Town in Prague. You will see sights such as the Old Town Square, the Powder Tower, The Church of Our Lady before Tyn and of course the Astronomical Clock. Many tours of the Old Town also offer beer tasting and Czech snacks! Want to go on a tour of the Old Town in Prague and find out more fun facts? Click here to check availability for?One Prague Tour: Old Town Road.
We have other blogs relating to spending time in Prague. Check out our guide to?spending a weekend in Prague?and how to have the?best night out in Prague.
1. The Old Town in Prague is very old
Founded in the 10th century, the Old Town in Prague is over 1000 years old! In addition, the Old Town square has served as a?marketplace at the crossroads of European trade routes during that long period. Today, the Old Town is part of the UNESCO World Heritage site, the Historic Centre of Prague. The Old Town is now popular with tourists and rightly so! It is a great place to visit and should be on everyone’s bucket list.
See the Old Town through a spooky lens by checking out the?ghosts and legends of the Old Town. For more information on Prague’s scary side, check out our blog?8 best things to do in Prague at night.
2. A dark tale associated with the Astronomical Clock
Master Hanus designed the clock in the 15th century. After the completion of the clock, everyone was happy with the result. However, many worried Hanus would leave and build a better clock elsewhere. Subsequently, to stop this from happening, the councillors blinded Hanus with a red hot poker! To get his own back, Hanus broke the clock and was the only one who knew how to fix it. The clock remained broken for around 100 years. Anyone who attempted to fix it would go mad!
3. There is a replica of the Astronomical Clock in South Korea
Castle Prague?is a Czech restaurant hidden in the Mapo District of Seoul complete with its own Astronomical Clock! In 2009, the ambassador of the Czech Republic to the Republic of Korea hosted a lunch in the restaurant with other ambassadors. Just goes to show how influential the architecture of the Old Town in Prague is.
To see more interesting parts of Seoul, read our blog post about the?Top Things to do in Seoul.
4. Eggs helped to build Charles Bridge
Charles Bridge connects the Old Town to the Lesser Town. It is one of the most famous bridges in the world. However, it is said that egg yolks were mixed into the mortar to strengthen the construction of the bridge. There is no evidence of this legend but how else can the bridge have survived over 500 years and multiple floods?
To learn more about Charles Bridge, read our blog post?Everything You Can do in Prague in One Day.
5. The Old Town Hall Tower has some of the best views in Prague
The tower at the Old Town Hall provides panoramic views over Prague. You can see the Old Town square, Prague Castle and the famous Prague rooftops.
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Top Tip:?The view from the Old Town Hall is nice all the time but it is especially nice at night and while the Christmas market is taking place.
6. The Old Town is right next to the Jewish Quarter
The Jewish Quarter is a hugely significant area for European and Jewish history. One of the most fascinating places in the Jewish Quarter is the Old Jewish Cemetery where over 100,000 people are buried. During WWII, the Nazis destroyed many significant Jewish sites. However, Hitler requested the Old Jewish Cemetery be preserved for a “Museum of an Extinct Race”. Thankfully, this did not happen and the Old Cemetery was left untouched.
To find out more about the Jewish Quarter, read our blog?Prague Jewish Quarter Walking Tour: What To See and Do.
7. The Old Town is home to the oldest university in Central Europe
Charles University was founded in 1348 by Charles IV, Holy Roman Emperor. It is the oldest university in Central Europe in addition to being the largest university in the Czech Republic. Today, it is ranked in the top 1.5% of universities in the world. The university consists of 17 faculties including theology, medicine and art.
8. Walt Disney was inspired by the Church of Our Lady Before Tyn
Walt Disney is heavily rumoured to have used the church as inspiration for his Sleeping Beauty Castle. The unique spires on top of the towers do look very familiar! The church is not the only fairytale building in Prague! In addition to being one of the largest castles in the world, Prague Castle looks like it just stepped out of a Disney film. To check availability for?Prague Castle tours, click here.
To learn more about castles in the Czech Republic, read our blog post on the?15 Must-See Castles in the Czech Republic.
9. The Powder Tower was the original entrance to Prague
Coronation processions for Bohemian kings would start at the Powder Tower and mark the beginning of the journey up to Prague Castle. The name “Powder Tower” was given as a result of the tower being used for gunpowder storage at the beginning of the 18th?century.
Thank You From easyGuide
We hope you found our guide for all you need to know about the Old Town in Prague useful. Don’t forget you can?find tickets to the top attractions, activities, experiences and tours in?Prague?here.
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