If you stand still in Old Town, you may catch a lingering strain of Prague’s ancient history as it calls out to you.  With origins firmly rooted in the 12^th Century, Old Town is as dramatic and it is sensuous, and it will capture your imagination and ensnare your heart. 
 
A medieval settlement, Old Town was once separated from the outside world by a semi-circular moat and wall, fed by the Vltava River.  The Old Town Square is now one of the two main squares in Prague, though it is widely considered the most beautiful.  To stand in the square is to take a journey through history; dating from the 12^th Century, it began life as the Prague’s main marketplace.  Over the centuries, a number of buildings and churches in Romanesque, Baroque and Gothic styles sprung up around the market – each structure telling its own story of commercial wealth, politician intrigue or religious devotion. 
 
Amongst all of this archaeological interest, a few prominent sights are sure to stand out above the rest.  The Old Town Hall is one of the most recognisable buildings in Prague and is associated with some of the most significant events in the county’s history; it was here, for example, that George of Poděbrady was elected as King of Bohemia in 1458.  Constructed in 1364, the Town Hall’s gothic tower dominates the skyline. 

Týn Church (or the Church of Our Lady Before Týn) was founded in 1385 and commands one side of the Old Town Square.  Its two Gothic spires are visible from all over Prague, but on a closer inspection, visitors will notice that they are not symmetrical as one might expect; typical of Gothic architecture of the period, the spires were designed to represent the masculine and feminine sides of the world.  No less imposing, St Nicholas Church is considered the most famous Baroque church in Prague.  Completed in 1735, it was, at the time of construction, concealed behind Krenn House.  It was only after Krenn House was demolished in 1901/2 that the church’s breathtaking façade was able to secure a distinguished place in the Old Town Square. 

Old Town is a living dedication to Prague’s long and arresting history.  At the centre of the square, visitors will discover a statue of the religious crusader Jan Hus, who was burnt at the stake in 1415.  Considered the first church reformer, the death of this predecessor of the Protestant movement was the catalyst for Hussite Religious Wars.  The statue was erected on July 6^th 1915, to mark the 500^th anniversary of his death.  The square is also home to a memorial in honour of the martyrs beheaded after the Battle of the White Mountain in 1620, an early battle in the Thirty Years’ War; 27 simple white crosses mark the pavement in remembrance.  Surrounded by so much history, it would not be hard to believe that to visit to Prague’s Old Town is to step back in time; uncover the past as it envelops you in all of its glory.  

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