Centre

On the Old Town bank of the Vltava, close to the Jewish Quarter, and just a stone’s throw from the Staromestska metro station stands the Rudolfinum, a fine example of Czech Neo-Renaissance architecture. Josef Zitek and Josef Schulz designed this building during as part of the Czech National Revival of the late 19th/ early 20th centuries. During this time, the Czechs were slowly gaining more autonomy from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, a period marked by cultural growth for the Czechs, which explains the decadent interior of the Rudolfinum.

The Old-New Synagogue, built circa 1270, is the oldest synagogue still in use in all of Europe. It is positioned next to the Jewish Town Hall, and is recognizable by its early Gothic brick exterior. This synagogue earned its curious name because it was originally named the New Synagogue. When another synagogue was built nearby, it was given its current title. The building itself has been kept in excellent condition throughout its turbulent history in Prague’s Jewish quarter.

Prague’s Old Jewish Cemetery is the oldest Jewish cemetery in Europe, and one of the few which remained unscathed by Nazis during World War II. Situated in the original Jewish ghetto, more than 100,000 Jews were buried in this small plot, although the number of tombstones is approximately 12,000. It is a humbling sensation to stand in the midst of 100,000 deceased. Due to the cemetery’s confined surface area, bodies had to be buried on top of one another. Some of the graves are as much as twelve layers deep.

Situated on the east bank of the Vltava and just north of Old Town, Prague’s Jewish Quarter is a striking tribute to the solidarity and perseverance of the Jewish people. Although Judaism was established in Central Europe as early as the 10th century, its followers were discriminated throughout most of Prague’s history. Until the late 1700s, the Jews were confined to a cramped, walled ghetto which occupied most of today’s Jewish Quarter. During this time, the Jews suffered through many pogroms and a great fire in 1689.

The most famous square in the old Prague originated in the 11th century when the very first inhabitants of the right shore of the Vltava river came to settle this land. The square went through many changes during the ages, which has actually reflected even on its names. At the beginning it was called Market or Old Market because of the fact that there were regular markets organized there. Then, since the 14th century, it was changed to Market Place or Old Town Market Place.

Tyn Church, or “The Church of Our Lady Before Tyn”, towers over the Old Town Square, reaching a height of around 80 metres.

The Tyn was built in the 15th century, by the followers of the “heretic” Jan Hus (also spelled John Huss in English), who was burnt at the stake in Constance.