Old Town Core - Prague

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Old Town Core
The medieval heart of Prague with wonderful marketplace between streets: Narodni, Na prikope and Revolucni. This is one of the most beautiful squares in Europe. There is a city hall and the monument of Jan Hus among other attractions such as Goltz-Kinsky Palace. The marketsquare is surrounded by narrow, picturesque streets. One of them – Karlova leads to Carol Bridge. For almost 400 years it had been the only connection between Old Prague and Hradcany (the royal castle). The bridge is nicely decorated with baroque sculptures. At present it is a pedestrian zone, closed to city traffic. The bridge was designed by Peter Parler in the XIVth century. Fortunately the construction hasn’t been damaged by any natural distasters or war campaigns alike Old Town which almost looks like 600 years ago. One of its most interesting buildings is tower that was used by German astronomer Johannes Kepler to observe stars and planets. Kepler had to leave Germany due to religious beliefs and thus he moved to tolerant Prague. Another interesting complex on Karlova street is a Jesuitical collegium called Klementinum. Jesuits were brought to Prague by Ferdynand I after the Reformation period. They also got Saint Kliment church, that was later reconstructed by Dienzenhofer. In the end of XVIIth century Jesuits were forced to leave the city and their properties were given to the Univeristy. Its oldest part is located in the vicinity of Celetna street. The Carol University is the oldest univeristy in central Europe, founded in 1348. Throughout the centuries most of its students were not only Czechs, but also Germans and Jews. Their district called Josefov is located between the Old Town and Veltava river.

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