Old Town

Prague is often compared to a fairytale world and the Old Town is the best place to understand why. The maze of cobblestone streets and narrow passageways seem designed to delight your senses but defy logic. So instead of figuring out a route, the surest strategy will be to simply get lost amidst the pretty medieval architecture.

In any case, all paths will lead you to Old Town Square, which originated in the Middle Ages as a typical peasant market. One can imagine the bustling atmosphere of this place, with crowds of people moving among the many stalls of merchants, craftsmen and tradesmen. Today, the square is just as crowded - only now it is dominated by tourists who come to admire one of the most beautiful historical monuments in Europe.

The focal point of Old Town Square is the statue of Jan Hus, the famous 15th century Protestant martyr who dared to oppose the Catholic Church (preceding the more famous Luther Reformation) and was condemned to be burned at the stake.

The architectural ensemble of the square is remarkably diverse. Near the Gothic Týn Cathedral you can see the rococo Kinsky Palace and the baroque St Nicholas Church - all looking so colourful and just waiting to be explored.

But the most important monument is definitely the astronomical clock - a phenomenal clock located on the facade of the Old Town Hall tower. It dates back to the Middle Ages and is the oldest still working clock of its kind in the world. The astronomical clock is particularly famous for its set of cute symbolic statues that put on a little theatrical performance with each passing hour, which you can easily tell by the crowd of people standing by the tower and looking up at it.