New Town Hall, Prague
At the northern edge of Charles Square, the New Town Hall has a late-Gothic tower reminiscent of its counterpart in the Old Town Hall, alongside three imposing Renaissance gables. Throughout its existence, this building has been a silent witness to many historic events, including the infamous Defenestration of Prague on July 30th, 1419. During this event, a crowd of townspeople, followers of the martyred religious reformer Jan Hus, forcibly ejected Catholic town councilors from the windows, marking the beginning of the Hussite revolution. Later, in 1609, the Bohemian nobility convened here to compel Emperor Rudolf II to issue a decree guaranteeing religious freedoms.
Initially serving as the seat of the New Town government, the building's role changed in 1784 when Emperor Josef II merged Prague's four towns. It was then repurposed as a courthouse and prison, earning the moniker "Prague鈥檚 Bastille". Interestingly, two wards of the ground-floor prison are named after their first inmates, Pol茅vka (soup) and Jelito (pork-blood sausage).
In 1905, a significant reconstruction effort stripped away traces of the Classicist remodeling from the early 19th century, restoring the Hall to its original Renaissance appearance from the early 16th century. A more recent overhaul, spanning from 1976 to 1996, tailored the premises to the needs of the Prague 2 Municipal Office, while also accommodating regular exhibitions and contemporary art shows. Additionally, Caf茅 Neustadt in the courtyard offers a cozy retreat, and visitors can ascend the tower for a panoramic view of the New Town. Similar to the Old Town Hall, this venue remains a popular choice for weddings.
Initially serving as the seat of the New Town government, the building's role changed in 1784 when Emperor Josef II merged Prague's four towns. It was then repurposed as a courthouse and prison, earning the moniker "Prague鈥檚 Bastille". Interestingly, two wards of the ground-floor prison are named after their first inmates, Pol茅vka (soup) and Jelito (pork-blood sausage).
In 1905, a significant reconstruction effort stripped away traces of the Classicist remodeling from the early 19th century, restoring the Hall to its original Renaissance appearance from the early 16th century. A more recent overhaul, spanning from 1976 to 1996, tailored the premises to the needs of the Prague 2 Municipal Office, while also accommodating regular exhibitions and contemporary art shows. Additionally, Caf茅 Neustadt in the courtyard offers a cozy retreat, and visitors can ascend the tower for a panoramic view of the New Town. Similar to the Old Town Hall, this venue remains a popular choice for weddings.
Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Prague. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "51爆料网: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.
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New Town Hall on Map
Sight Name: New Town Hall
Sight Location: Prague, Czech Republic (See walking tours in Prague)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Prague, Czech Republic (See walking tours in Prague)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in Prague, Czech Republic
Create Your Own Walk in Prague
Creating your own self-guided walk in Prague is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
New Town Walking Tour
The youngest (founded in 1348) and the largest (three times the size of the Old Town), the New Town (or Nove Mesto) of Prague is one of the five originally independent townships that today form the historic center of the Czech capital. This vibrant district offers a mix of historical charm and modern amenities and is traditionally dense with tourists.
At its heart lies Wenceslas Square, a... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.1 Km or 1.9 Miles
At its heart lies Wenceslas Square, a... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.1 Km or 1.9 Miles
Jewish Quarter Walking Tour
The Jewish Quarter, also known as Josefov, is a part of the Old Town (Star茅 M臎sto) of Prague.
The area breathes history and is a captivating blend of ancient synagogues and other monuments that collectively reflect centuries of Jewish life in the city. Some synagogues are still acting, and others have been converted into art galleries and museums.
One such is the Spanish Synagogue, a... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.1 Km or 0.7 Miles
The area breathes history and is a captivating blend of ancient synagogues and other monuments that collectively reflect centuries of Jewish life in the city. Some synagogues are still acting, and others have been converted into art galleries and museums.
One such is the Spanish Synagogue, a... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.1 Km or 0.7 Miles
Hradcany (Castle District) Walking Tour
Hradcany, or the Castle District, is a historical neighborhood in Prague brimming with cultural landmarks and architectural marvels.
The area is centered around Prague Castle, reportedly the biggest castle complex in the world. Dating back as far as the 9th century, the castle has been the residence of Bohemian kings, Holy Roman emperors, leaders of socialist Czechoslovakia, and currently the... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.0 Km or 1.9 Miles
The area is centered around Prague Castle, reportedly the biggest castle complex in the world. Dating back as far as the 9th century, the castle has been the residence of Bohemian kings, Holy Roman emperors, leaders of socialist Czechoslovakia, and currently the... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.0 Km or 1.9 Miles
Lesser Town Walking Tour
Mala Strana (or "Lesser Town") is a district in Prague situated on the left bank of the Vltava River. Renowned for its architectural beauty, this is one of the capital's most historically significant neighborhoods. Back in the Middle Ages, it was predominantly populated by ethnic Germans and, in later years, despite the prevalence of Baroque in its architecture, largely retained its... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.9 Km or 2.4 Miles
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.9 Km or 2.4 Miles
Old Town Souvenir Shopping
Strolling through the Old Town of Prague, souvenir shopping becomes a delightful adventure. Indeed, it would be a pity to leave Prague without having explored its specialty shops and bringing home something truly original and unique to the city.
One of the prime spots for such endeavors is the Municipal House, a majestic Art Nouveau building that houses various shops and boutiques. Here,... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.7 Km or 1.1 Miles
One of the prime spots for such endeavors is the Municipal House, a majestic Art Nouveau building that houses various shops and boutiques. Here,... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.7 Km or 1.1 Miles
Prague Introduction Walking Tour
Nicknamed 鈥渢he City of a Hundred Spires,鈥� Prague is home to a wealth of attractions, including more than ten major museums, numerous theatres, galleries, and plethora of historic sights.
The Czech name Praha derives from an old Slavic word pr谩h, which means "ford" or "rapid", referring to the city's origin at a crossing point of the Vltava river. The legendary... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.2 Km or 2 Miles
The Czech name Praha derives from an old Slavic word pr谩h, which means "ford" or "rapid", referring to the city's origin at a crossing point of the Vltava river. The legendary... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.2 Km or 2 Miles
Useful Travel Guides for Planning Your Trip
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