HOTEL OLD TOWN SQUARE PRAGUE

Betlem Club Hotel near Old Town Square Prague

Betlem Club Hotel is located in Prague city center near the Old Town Square which is only a 5 minute stroll away from the hotel. Nearby are the Charles Bridge, Hradčany, Prague Castle, the Jewish Town Josefov, the Royal Route, Bethlehem Chapel and all the other landmarks of the Prague downtown.

Old Town Square Prague

Old Town Square (Czech. Staroměstské náměstí), formerly called the Great Square and now in Czech popularly known as the "Staromák" are among the most beautiful square in Europe and the largest monuments of the Prague Old Town. It covers an area of ​​more than 9000 square meters. Although best known is here the Old Town Hall with its famous Astronomical Clock, it is there more to see. Old Town Square is surrounded by Tyn Church, the Hussite church of St. Nicholas in Old Town, Kinsky Palace, House "U kamenného zvonu" and in the middle of Old Town Square is a monument to Jan Hus. Also, this way leads Royal Route, linking most of the main sights of the Old Town.

History of Old Town Square

Already in the 11th century stood on the spot of the Old Town square market and its importance gradually increased to reach the most important commercial center in the country. Old Town Square became a theater of many important events. There were 27 Czech lords executed after the Estates uprising in the White Mountain (Czech. Bílá Hora) near Prague, which triggered one of the biggest armed conflicts - Thirty Years War. Due to the importance of the Old Town Square is not surprising that this is where the Old Town Hall was built.

Prague Old Town City Hall

Old Town City Hall dominates the Old Town Square and its Astronomical Clock or Prague Astronomical Clock is also one of the most famous and most visited monuments in Prague at all. City Hall in Old Town Square was founded in 1388 on the basis of privilege king John of Luxembourg. It is right in the middle of the city as a symbol of his independence. At its front bears the proud password Praga caput regni - Prague head of kingdom. Old Town City Hall as we know it today, was created by merging several town houses that have been modified over the centuries to the needs of administration of the Old Town. Gems of the Town Hall is a massive square tower, which is not only a town hall chapel, but especially the famous Astronomical Clock.

Prague Astronomical Clock

The famous Astronomical Clock (Czech. Pražský Orloj) was launched in 1410, ie, more than 600 years ago. Built it clockmaker Mikulas of Kadan (Czech. Mikuláš z Kadaně), probably designed by John Andrew (Czech. Jan Ondřejov) called Šindel, personal physician and astrologer of King Wenceslas IV. and Sigismund of Luxembourg. In 1490 the Astronomical Clock was enhanced by master Hanus.

Old Czech Legends cited Master Hanus as the original creator of the Prague Astronomical clock. According to legend, Prague councilors blinded him so he could not stand any other clock in another city. And so blind master asked his apprentices James (Czech. Jakub) to lead him up to the machine. Here, in 1497, put Master Hanus his hand on the machine and according to the legend the clock for a long time stopped.


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