Prague monuments and history

The Statue of Iron Knight

On the corner of New Town hall and Marianske namesti square in the Old Town of Prague (Stare mesto) is statue of Iron Knight or also know as Iron Man.
Made by Ladislav Saloun in year 1908-10.
According the legend representing the emperor Rodulph II. who in this disguise walk in the Jewish town to see young and beautiful doughter or rabbi.
The girl you can see as in the crinkle hiding her face because she knows that it is a sin to fell in love with cristian.

But more likly is that the inspiration for the artist was different legend which evoke former house sighn on the house "U Odence" in Platnerska street.
The sign could be find in the town museum nowdays.



Radnicke schody (Radnicke stairs at the Prague Castle)
Important footh path are not only for Hradcany Radnicke schody (Radnicke stairs)
The begining of them is in connection of "Nerudova street" and the street "Ke Hradu".

Walker who claim 127 stone stairs get to former Hradcany town hall in Loretanska street.
Town hall means in Czech RADNICE and from here came the name Radnicni schody (town hall stairs)
Stairs was not here in the past. It was just simple hollow way leading stright up to the hill it was quite frequented. Usully hacking by riders on horses and also waggons.

in year 1663 under today Schwarzemberg palace was according the design of Santini di Bossi made road for carriages. There for was desroyed 2 houses in the top of Nerudova street. The road was called first New Way and now it is Ke Hradu street (To the Castle street)


Contest of Gladiators
On plyons of the entrace gate to Prague Castle standing in fight position 2 gladiators.
Prague statutary Ignac Frantisek Platzer who created both statues called then Gladiators contest

Sometimes it is also called for its monumentality The contest of giants. I F Platzer is originally from Pilsen (west Czech republic) divadied his work between Prague like a home town and Vienna where send him Maria Therisia to decored her residency. Where award him by title curt statutory.
Simply to say Vienna gave him honour and Prague name.

The statues of Gladiators were made in years 1770-1780 as part of the middle gate created during the reconstruction of the Prague Castle in time of domination of Maria Theresia.


Prague Castle
According the archeological research and the old written sources it is more likely that the Prague Castle was founded around the year 880 by Princ Borivoj of the house of Premyslides.
In the medieval times the castle side was fortifed with a moat and rampart of clay and stones.

The first walled building was the church of Our Lady. Other churches, dedicated to St. George and St. Vitus, were founded in the first half of the 10th century.
From the 10th century Prague Castle was not only the seat of the head of state, the princes and later kings, but also of the highest representative of church, the Prague bishop. The first convent in Bohemia was also founded in the grounds of Prague Castle, a convent next to the church of St. George for the order of Benedictine nuns.
The period of the rule of King and later Emperor Charles IV. (the middle of the 14th century) was a time of prosperity for Prague Castle, for then it first became an imperial residence, the seat of the ruler of the Holy Roman Empire. The royal palace was magnificently rebuilt and the fortifications strengthened. Building began on the Gothic church of St. Vitus on the model of French cathedrals.
The adaptation of the Castle came to its height in the second half of the 16th century, during the rule of Rudolph II. The emperor settled permanently in Prague Castle and began to turn it into a grand and dignified centre of the empire. And he founded the northern wing of the palace, with today's Spanish Hall, to house his precious artistic and scientific collections.
The Prague defenestration in 1618 started a long period of wars, during which Prague Castle was damaged and robbed. It was used by the country's ruler only exceptionally and temporily
In the second half of the 18th century the last great rebuilding of the Castle was carried out, making it a prestigious castle-type seat. But at that time the capital or the empire was Vienna, and Prague was just a provincial town. The Castle gradually became dilapidated and its art treasures were impoverished by the sale of the remains of the Emperor Rudolph's collections
See also the official web site of Prague Casle


Invalidovna
The house of Invalidovna is located in Prague 8 district called Karlin which is dirtrict near the city centre about 15 min walk or few stop by metro. There is also metro station Invalidovna - named after the building of Invalidovna.

During the 16th century was decided tp built for injured (invalid) soldiers of Austrian army house in Prague. In the plan was 9 houses in Prague district Karlin but finaly thanks to some reasons was built just one in years 1732-1737. Until now is the name of the house Invalidovna. It was made by well know Kilian Ignac Diezenhofer.

Infront of the building is monument of Strozicky who found foundation for invalid soldiers. The Invalidovna is important Prague historical monumnet.
From the year 1737 served the Invalidovan house to the injured soldiers from all of the wars.
Nowday because of missing enough financial founds the house of Invalidovna is in bad conditions. Also the fladding in 2oo2 damaged it hardly.
By the way the part of the very good movie (Oscar awards) AMADEUS directed by famous Milos Forman was shooted in Invalidovna.


Charles Bridge
It is the Oldest bridge in Prague and also one of the most beautiful on the world.
Originally called Stone bridge or Prague bridge and from 1870 Karluv Most (Charles Bridge)
On his place was originally Roman bridge, called after wife of King Vratislav I. (1140-1172) bridge of Judita. It was built 1158-1171 and in year 1272 was seriously damaget by flood and the rest of the bridge was taken down by the ice, wood and other things which was bring by another flood in year 1342. It was considered that time like national disaster.
July 9th 1357 in 5 am 31 min the king Charles IV (Karel IV) laid the basic stone of the new bridge. The date and time was pick by the Kings astrogist as the best time for the new project. (conjuct between the Sun and Saturn)
The bridge is long 520 m, wide 10 m. The Charles Bridge was used until 20th century as very important way between the Old Town of Prague (Stare mesto) and Lesser Town (Mala Strana) on which were carry goods, and people.


Zlata Ulicka (Golden Lane on Prague Castle)
The place where is now Zlata Ulicka was originally a part of bulwark of the north side of Prague Castle. Built by B. Ried at the end of 15th century.
Tipical for the Zlata Ulicka are very small, colourful houses which was buid later around end of 16th century for the families of castles triggerman, gold-beaters and not as saying for the alchymists of the Rudolph II. The Gold beaters gave also the name for the lane at the end of the 17th century - Zlata (Golden). Nowdays it is place visited by huge number of tourists.
Partucular attention has house number 17 in which in years 1916-1917 shortly lived Franz Kafka. House number 22 has rented famous writer O Storch-Marien.


Stavovske Divadlo (Estate Theater)

Originally on the spot where is today the Estate Theater (also know that time as Tylovo or Nosticovo Divadlo) was in 18th century wooden house for the summer plays.1799 the theatre was bought from the Nostitz property by Czech estates (and from here the name Estate theatre)

1731-83 here was built on expences of earl F. A. Nostitz-Rienck new stone theatre under design of A. Haffenecker in baroque clacisism.
In years 1920 - 1949 was the theatre called Divadlo J. K. Tyla, from year 1949 Tylovo divadlo. In the end of 20th century was the full reconstruction.
The character of interier is result of lots of interferences in half of 19th century and in the first half of 20 century and all the original ornamentation was lost.
Now The Estate Theatre (Stavovske divadlo) together with the State Opera (Statni Opera Praha) and Kolovrat Theatre (Divadlo Kolovrat) belongs under the wings of National Theatre in Prague.


Vitkov
National monument on the hill VITKOV was built in years 1939-1932 according the proiject of J. Zazvorka to honor Czech legioners and CZech resistence during the first world war. It is construction overlined by granite. In the year 1949 was rest in relics of Unknown soldier, who fall to the ground during the fight in Dukelsky prusmyk in the second world war.
And in year 1953 was her intomb first communist president Klement Gottwald.
1950 was her in Vitkov settled broinze statue of JAN ZIZKA z trocnova in memoriam of battle between the hussits warriors and the crusade.


Prasna Brana (Powder Tower)
On the same place since 13th century as a part of the city bulwark gate, called from 14th century Mountain because it was on the way from the Kutna hora. Next to the gate in place where in now Municipal house was the Kings yard which was built for Vaclav I. From 15th century was the gate called Odrhana (ragget) maybe for the bad conditions.
Around 1348 the gate loosing its purpose and remind just as place of collecting of duty. In year 1457 begin reconstruction (by M Rejsek) of the tower which should be representativ for its proximity of the Kings residence. But it was not finished
1715 was tower in use as storage of gunpowder and from here is the current name Powder Tower. Because of Prussian beleaguerment in 1757 which tower damaged there was lots of thought to take down the tower. But 1870 was finaly decided to reconstruct the tower under design J. Mocker and finished 1909.


St. Vitus's Cathedral (Chram Svateho Vita)
St. Vitus's Cathedral is the most important munument in Czech republic. Apart from divine services the coronations of Czech kings and queens also took place in it. The remains of provincial patron saints, sovereigns, noblemen and archbishops are interred here. About the year 925 Prince Vaclav I founded a Romanesque rotunda here which after 1060 was converted into a triple-naved basilica with two steeples. The importance of the cathedral grew especially after the establishment of the Prague bishopric in 973 and the founding of the body of canons - the St. Vitus chapter, which later became an important cultural and administrative institution. In 1344 Charles IV began the construction of a Gothic cathedral. Its first builders, Matthias of Arras and later Peter Parler, built the choir with a ring of chapels, St. Wenceslas's Chapel, the Golden Portal and the lower part of the main steeple. In spite of the endeavours of some sovereigns to secure the continuation of the construction work the cathedral remained uncompleted for whole centuries. The main steeple was crowned with a Renaissance helmet and the music choir was built. The facade of the cathedral was provisionally closed. It was not until the latter half of the 19th century that the Union for the Completion of the Building of St. Vitus's Cathedral began the repair of the original part and the completion of the building of the cathedral in Neo-Gothic style. The cathedral was solemnly consecrated in 1929. Its interior was subjected to adaptations even in later years. Visitors enter the cathedral through the portal in the western facade, opposite the passage-way between the Second and Third Courtyards of Prague Castle. Its bronze door is decorated with reliefs with scenes from the history of the cathedral and from the legends about St. Wenceslas and St. Adalbert. The Neo-Gothic part of the cathedral consists of the main nave and the narrow side aisles, lined with chapels, and the northern wing of the transverse nave. The chapels have stained glass windows. The construction of the large southern steeple was started by Peter Parler, but he did not complete it. It gained its originally planned height after being provided with a Renaissance helmet in the 16th century. St. Wenceslas's Chapel partly reaches on to the area of the transverse nave. The different conception of its architecture and its magnificent decoration emphasize its importance as the central point of the cathedral as a whole. The solemn entrance to the cathedral, the Golden Portal, affords access to the chapel from the Third Courtyard.


NOVY SVET (New World)
At New World there are three architectonicly important houses: At Golden Pear (no.77), At Golden Grapvine (no. 78) and At Golden Acorn (no. 79). Just a few steps from the proud palaces of Hradcany there is another, new world. A few lanes creating one of the Hrad?any suburbs were founded in the 14th century, but the preservated view of New World is from the 18thcentury.
Photos of NOVY SVET


LORETA
Loreta was built in years 1626 - 1750.The Holly House itself was costructed by the architect G.B. Orsi in 1626-1627. the Baroque arcades from first half of 18th century were created by K. and K.I. Dienzenhofers.
The Marys chimes from P. Newmann watchmaker was built in 1694. The great art historical value has a Loreta Treasure from 17 - 18the centuries, a set of approx three thousand of golden and silver units is of enormous artistic and historical value. more about Loreta on www.loreta.cz

Photos of LORETA


PRAGUE MUSEUM (Muzeum hlavniho mesta Prahy)
The main building of the Prague museum is located in Florenc - in the centre of Prague. The museum was built in years 1896 - 1898 in neo-renaissance style under architect Antonin Balsanek.
Between the exposition belongs : Historical Prague (history of the town, and its inhabitants from the prehistory until the year 1784) and The model of Prague made by Langweil from years 1826 – 1834 (unique and most spectacular exhibit of the museum)
more about the Prague museum