Old Town & Jewish Quarter

Prague's main public square since the 10th century, surrounded by Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque, and Rococo buildings spanning 800 years. The Jan Hus Memorial (1915) honors the reformist priest burned at the stake in 1415, a century before Luther. In 1621, 27 Czech Protestant leaders were executed here after the Battle of White Mountain — 27 crosses embedded in the pavement mark the spot. The Church of Our Lady before Tyn (1365) with its distinctive twin spires dominates the east side, while the Baroque St. Nicholas Church anchors the northwest corner.

The 27 execution crosses are in the pavement near the Old Town Hall — most visitors walk right over them. The view from the Astronomical Clock tower is the best in Old Town.

The world's oldest functioning astronomical clock, installed in 1410 by clockmaker Mikulas of Kadan and astronomer Jan Sindel on the Old Town Hall tower. The clock displays three types of time (Old Bohemian, Babylonian, and Central European), the position of the sun and moon against a zodiac ring, and a calendar dial added in 1490. Every hour, mechanical apostles parade through windows above while Death (a skeleton) rings a bell and turns an hourglass. Legend says the city blinded clockmaker Master Hanus to prevent him from building another — though this story is likely a 19th-century myth.

The apostle parade happens on the hour from 9 AM to 11 PM. Position yourself in the square five minutes early for the best view — the show lasts only 45 seconds.