Route through Gothic Prague. Cathedral of the Virgin Mary in front of Tyn

As you may have already learned from our programs, few historical buildings in Prague today are the bearer of one single architectural style. The Church of St. Martin in the Wall, which is one of the oldest in Prague, is no exception. It was originally built in the Romanesque style, and in 1178 it acquired its Gothic outlines. However, the church appeared in pre-Prague times, when the old town fortifications were just being built. Around the future Prague there were then small settlements that provided the city with food. One such village was called St. Martin's County - just after the name of the church. During the construction of the old town fortifications in the first half of the 13th century, the county was divided into two parts. Most of it remained outside the city wall on the territory of the future New Town, and the smaller part, together with the church, became part of the Old Town, thus the church received the name St. Martin in the Wall.

“This church, in my opinion, quite harmoniously combines parts of the High and Late Gothic periods, that is, the Hussite Gothic period, when buildings in the Renaissance style were already being built throughout Europe, then Baroque and pseudo-Gothic elements that appeared during the reconstruction in 1905 When the church was still Romanesque, it had only one rather low nave. From the Romanesque period, only one pillar remained, which I managed to find in the current underground room. The current main nave of the church dates back to the mid-13th century. If we look at the church tower from the back, it will be clearly visible that the church was built in such a way that it became an integral part of the city’s defense structures,” says evangelical priest Mikulas Vymnetal.

The Gothic reconstruction of the church was carried out during the reign of Karel IV after 1350. The nave grew in height and a new vault appeared, a pyramid-shaped wall was built on the south-eastern side, and the space of the church itself increased thanks to the addition of a rectangular altar. Between 1360 and 1370 a rib vault appeared above the altar, which is considered one of the oldest of its type in the Czech Republic. Surprisingly, today the visitor enters the church through the Baroque entrance, which was built in 1779. It is decorated with a copy of a painting depicting St. Martin. Its original, created by the great Czech painter Karel Skreta, was previously kept inside the church, where there were several different altars and chapels. However, the Church of St. Martin in the wall was destined for a difficult fate. As part of the Josephine reforms, Emperor Joseph II visited some of Prague's churches to determine which ones would be restored and which ones would be abolished.

“It was said about Martin in the wall that it was too humid, there was not enough space and in general that being there was unhealthy. Therefore, the church was abolished, the building began to be used as storage facilities. A photograph and painting from the late 19th century were found that show that this building was included in a complex of other buildings under a common roof. On the portal the inscription “beer pouring” was visible, next to it was the inscription “sale of furniture”, among other things, there was also a dance hall here, and there were apartments on the ground floor.”

In this form, the church existed until the 20th century, when its original function returned to it. The church acquired its current outline in 1488 during the late Gothic reconstruction. Then the building was raised by about one and a half meters. The reconstruction was made possible thanks to the financing of the Utrakvist bourgeois family Goltsev from Kvetnica. At the same time, two side naves with rib vaults were added. The ceiling painting also dates back to this period: a silver lion with two tails on a red background - the coat of arms of the Czech Kingdom, an anchor - the coat of arms of the Golts family and a silver wolf with a golden tongue on a red background - the coat of arms of the Beneš family from Lokanov.

“The Goltsy were great philanthropists; they added two side naves and a chapel to the church. For this they were allowed to build their own entrance to the church. Then they owned today's house "U Platiz". A bridge or balcony appeared there, leading to the so-called Goltsev Oratorio,” continues Mikulas Vymnetal.

If you remember our visit to the chapel in the Old Town Hall, the ends of the vaults there rested on the heads of strange figures, which the researchers were unable to accurately identify. We can see similar figures in the interior of the Church of St. Martin in the wall, however, priest Mikulas Vymnetal offers a different interpretation.

“If you pay attention to the “heels” of the arches, you will see figures that most likely depict comic characters. Gothic churches are characterized by a combination of the beautiful and the ugly. One priest was of the opinion that this could be seen as an anti-Semitic polemic, that the figures depict the faces of Jews. I checked this information at the Institute of Jewish Studies in Olomouc. They denied this information and replied that, most likely, they were just buffoons.”

On the dais in the altar there is a golden cup, which reminds us that in this church for the first time communion was celebrated in two ways - with wine and bread, including for lay parishioners. By the way, from the point of view of the evangelical church, the Church of St. Martin in the Wall is one of the most outstanding in the world, since it is one of the four churches where communion was celebrated in two ways - this is what began the Czech Reformation. This happened in the fall of 1414, when Jan Hus was still alive, but was already imprisoned in the ossuary. At that time, priest Jan from Hradec celebrated the sacraments here. However, let's return to the history of the church. In 1678, as we already know, one of the most destructive fires occurred in Prague, and it did not spare the Church of St. Martin in the Wall. The tower, which was later replaced by a baroque one, burned down, as did the roof, and the bells melted. However, the restoration took place quite quickly - in a month and six days, so that by St. Martin's Day the church was already functioning again. The church also has one unique detail that is not found in any other Prague church.

“If you look at the ceiling, you will see a unique detail - a wooden ceiling decorated with images. It appeared after the fire in 1678. It has very rich iconography. In addition to numerous plant motifs, we see a naked woman entwined with a serpent, of course, this is Eve, and a clothed man, Adam. It can be assumed that in the Baroque era the image of a naked woman in a church was a normal occurrence, but a naked man would have been a problematic fact. In addition, we see one cherub, three lions and a parrot. This is followed by images of other animals and birds from Czech nature, so one can assume that the artist wanted to show that we can have heavenly, paradisiacal harmony here on earth, in the Czech Republic.”

We can see interesting figures outside the church, of course, and they have become the reason for the emergence of numerous legends.

“If you look at the sculpture hidden on the corner on the left side of the church, you will see the figure of a grinning boy. We can assume that it appeared at the same time as the bridge from the Goltsev house, which we mentioned. There are several legends about this sculpture. For example, one of them says that there lived a poor widow whose son was a big dunce. Then the legends diverge. One says that a procession was passing below, and he climbed onto the roof, stretched his mouth with his fingers and stuck out his tongue. The Bible describes the mouth being stretched with fingers when mocking. As soon as he did this, he immediately turned into stone. Another legend says that a widow worked hard to provide for her dunce son. One day she went outside and saw that people were crowded around the church and looking up, she also looked and saw her son, who was sticking out his tongue. When his mother threatened him, he also stuck out his tongue at her, then she cursed him and shouted at him to turn into stone. And so it happened,” concludes evangelical priest Mikulas Vymnetal.

We learned just one of the few legends that surround this outstanding monument of Gothic architecture. We hope that we will still have the opportunity to talk about other legends and parables that were born around the Church of St. Martin in the Wall.

Boring. Since there is no living thing at hand, then at least let there be a guidebook

This place is important for the history of Prague. It’s worth including it on a tour of Prague.

Saint Martin of Tours is one of the five most respected saints of France. The man was of rare soul and kindness. He lived in the 4th century. And before becoming a priest, he managed to be a military leader. The legend says that while still serving in the army, he once cut off a rather substantial piece from his cloak and gave it to a naked beggar. To whom it was given, as it turned out later, was Jesus himself... To Jesus, who appeared in this form... Who tested Martin in this way... At the end of the sovereign's service, Martin retired to the Liguzhe desert and, having become a monk, founded a monastery there. He was soon proclaimed Bishop of Tours.

More than two thousand monks gathered for his funeral in 397. Which at that time was more than respectable... During the funeral procession, despite the autumn season, flowers bloomed and birds sang. Such a wonderful man!

For his good disposition towards everyone without exception, Saint Martin was nicknamed the Merciful.

As for the Church of St. Martin in Prague, this place is unique!

There was already a settlement here by 1140. About thirty years later, the settlement was called St. Martina. This name was associated with the recently built Church of St. Martin.

This church is called correctly« St. Martin's Church in the wall". The “wall” in the title is the most interesting thing! The fact is that the church, built back in the 12th century, in the middle of the 13th century turned out to be part of the city wall built around the Old City. This wall was erected after the Old Town was founded by Wenceslas I in 1232. Near the Church of St. Martin, the city gate of the same name was located. There has been no wall or gate for a long time. However, the beveled brick corner on the side wall of the church makes it possible to imagine what once was.

The temple was rebuilt during the reign of Charles IV in 1350. The church took on its current form in 1488.

During the Hussite events, the church turned out to be politically significant. It was here in 1414, for the first time in the Czech Republic, that ordinary Catholic people began to receive communion not only with bread, but also with wine. For us today, for the most part « unchurched » , it is not possible to understand the enormity of this event. And in those days, the issue of communion was so serious that it partly served as a catalyst for the Hussite wars... Moderate Hussite cup makers later even hoisted their main symbol of victory, the communion cup, on the roof of the Tyn Temple...

Under the current paved streets around the rotunda of St. Martin there is a huge cemetery. The famous Brokoff family of sculptors is buried here. A large memorial plaque on this occasion can be seen on the outer masonry of the presbytery.

Due to the Act of Toleration signed by Emperor Joseph II in 1781, the Rotunda of St. Martin ceased its religious activities in 1785. The rich interior decoration was transferred to the Church of St. Wenceslas in Old Boleslav. Until the end of the 19th century, the temple premises were used as warehouses and shops. Now the church belongs to the Czech Brethren Church.

During your excursion around Prague, you should definitely come here.

Church of St. Martina in the wall has been well preserved since the Middle Ages. This is a unique example of Romanesque and Gothic architecture. In the 13th century, it was adjacent to the wall of the Old City, hence the name. Today the temple belongs to the Evangelical Church and exhibitions and concerts are held there.

One of the oldest places of worship in Prague is the Church of St. Martin in the Wall (Kostel sv. Martin ve zdi). It harmoniously combines elements of High and Late Gothic. Initially, a temple in the Romanesque style stood in its place; it acquired Gothic features in 1178.

How the name came about

Near Prague there was a village called St. Martin's County. The villagers decided to build a church. It was a building in the Romanesque style, with one nave and a semicircular apse. What remains of the former nave is a pillar that can be seen today.

In the 13th century, construction of the old town fortifications began. Which divided the county into two parts. The smaller part of the village and the church became part, but the larger part remained outside the city wall and later became the territory. The southern wall of the church was adjacent to the fortress, which is why the name arose - St. Martin's Church in the Wall.

History of construction

After 1350, during the reign, a Gothic reconstruction of the church was carried out. The nave became higher, a pyramid-shaped wall was built on the south-eastern side, a new vault appeared, and the space increased thanks to the addition of the altar. During the period 1360-1370. a rib vault was made above the altar.

In 1488, the church was rebuilt in the late Gothic style. This is how we see him today. The reconstruction was financed by the bourgeois Goltsev family from Kvetnitsa. The building was raised by 1.5 m, two side naves with rib vaults were added, a painting appeared on the ceiling: the coat of arms of the Czech Kingdom - a silver lion with two tails on a red background; coat of arms of the Goltsev family - anchor; and the coat of arms of the Benes family from Lokanova - a silver wolf with a golden tongue on a red background. The Golts had a private entrance and their own place of prayer.

During the persecution, the Hussites gathered in the Church of St. Martina. It was here that communion with wine and bread was first held for both priests and parishioners. With this act, Jan of Gradec and the Hussites argued that everyone is equal before God. The golden bowl on the dais in the altar reminds of this.

In 1678 there was a fire. The tower burned down (it was later replaced with a baroque one), the roof and the bells melted. But the church was restored in a short time.

The wooden ceiling that we see today depicts plant motifs, as well as a naked Eve entwined with a serpent and a clothed Adam. A naked woman in a church during the Baroque period was a common occurrence, but a naked man was a problematic fact. Also visible on the painting are a cherub, three lions, a parrot and other animals and birds of Czech nature. Apparently, the artist wanted to say that heavenly heavenly harmony can be had on earth.

In 1779, a Baroque-style entrance appeared, decorated with a copy of Karel Škreta's painting of St. Martina.

Emperor Joseph II, as part of his reforms, visited the Church of St. Martin and concluded that there was not enough space in it, it was too humid and being there was harmful to health. In 1784, the church was abolished, and the building began to be used as a warehouse, shops and housing. In this form, the structure existed until the 20th century, until Camille Gilbert paid attention to the Romanesque column and began research. Today it is an evangelical church.

Legends of the church

There is an interesting character outside the temple. On the left side, on the corner, there is a sculpture of a grinning boy. There are two legends. There lived one poor widow. Her son was a big idiot. Once during the procession he climbed onto the roof, stuck out his tongue and stretched his mouth with his fingers. And then he turned to stone.

Another legend tells a slightly different story. To ensure that her son did not need anything, the widow had to work hard. One day she went outside and saw people crowded around the church and looking up. The woman also looked and saw her son, he was sticking out his tongue. The mother threatened him, but the son stuck out his tongue at her too. Then the widow shouted at him to turn to stone. And so it happened.

Today's day

Nowadays, the Church of St. Martin in the Wall regularly hosts exhibitions and concerts of organ and classical music. The temple belongs to the Evangelical Church of the Czech Brothers; The German community gathers here.

How to get there

Take metro line B or tram 9, 18, 22, 53, 57, 58, 59 to the Národní třída stop.

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You can hear many epithets about Prague: hundred-towered Prague, magical, golden. Today, the capital of the Czech Republic is probably the most visited city in Central Europe. Extraordinary architecture and local cultural customs attract tourists from all over the world. Walking around the city, you can see almost all architectural styles in houses, churches, castles and squares.

The historical center of Prague is a truly unique place where Gothic, Baroque, as well as modern elements and structures are combined. But, perhaps, it is the contrast of Gothic and later styles that gives the city panoramas such beauty and uniqueness. I will not only talk about some of the architectural features of the city, but will also try to visually display them using photographs.

Temples and cathedrals

The Gothic style was especially widespread in the Middle Ages. At this time, many rulers tried to leave a memory of themselves and erect some kind of large-scale structure, of course, in this particular architectural style. And since, unlike many large European cities, Prague did not suffer catastrophically from various wars, most of the Gothic masterpieces have been preserved. And although they have been reconstructed and rebuilt more than once, for many the foundation has remained unchanged.

The most striking representatives of the Gothic movement are, of course, religious buildings. What elements are inherent in these buildings? First of all, these are sharp spiers, high elongated windows and ornate carved relief decorating the walls and roof. It seems to me that while in Prague, it is worth visiting some temples and cathedrals made in this style.

Cathedral of St. Vitus

Church of St. Martin in the wall

It was erected in the 12th century in the settlement of Uezd. But when the Old Town fortifications were built a century later, the Uyezd was divided into two parts by a fortress wall. The church was located right on the border. Therefore, he found himself in two territories at once: inside the fortress walls and outside. This is why the building got its name – St. Martin’s Church in the Wall.

During the reign of Charles IV, the church was rebuilt in the Gothic style. The main nave (an elongated room typical of basilicas and churches) increased its height, and the internal space expanded due to the restructuring of the presbytery (the space between the nave and the altar). Throughout its history, the building has undergone many changes and modifications, and, as far as I know, the fortress wall erected next to it has not been preserved.

Address: Martinská 416/10a, 110 00 Praha.

How to get there: get to the Můstek metro station either on the yellow or green line. You can also get to the Národní třída stop by tram.

Temple of the Virgin Mary in front of Tyn

This temple is almost the calling card of the Czech Republic, its most “postcard” building. It is located on Old Town Square, where almost all tourist excursions begin. The interior decoration is rich in statues, benches decorated with consoles in the shape of crowned heads, frescoes, as well as the oldest surviving tin font.

Address: Celetná, 601/5a, Stare Město, Prague 1.

How to get there: by metro on the green line to Staroměstská or Můstek station , and on yellow - to Můstek or Náměstí Republiky station . You can take the tram to any of the stops: Náměstí Republiky , Dlouhá třída , Jindřišská , Staroměstská, Právnická fakulta .

There are other churches and cathedrals built in the Gothic style: the Church of the Virgin Mary, the Church of St. Stephen, the Church of Saints and Paul, and the Bethlehem Chapel. They all have common architectural elements, and at the same time each has its own uniqueness. I was inside the Cathedral of St. Vitus, the power and simultaneous sophistication of which is amazing. I won’t retell all its features; you can read about my journey through this pearl of Gothic architecture in Prague. I was only able to see St. Martin's Church from the street, but you should definitely take a look inside if you have the opportunity. They say that this church used to resemble a fortress, and one could not only communicate with God, but also find refuge there. In addition, the internal architecture should be quite interesting: a ribbed ceiling, a private prayer place, the coat of arms of the family involved in the restoration, which was preserved on the facade.

Streets and squares

As mentioned above, you can admire the architecture of Prague right on the streets of the city. Well-known places in the historical center are perfect for this.

Old Town Square

It is akin to Red Square in Moscow in popularity. It was here that all the most significant events of the last 500 years took place: coronations, executions, announcements of decrees, etc. Here are the main chimes of the country and the Tyn Church, which was mentioned above. This place presents a variety of styles and techniques of architecture, but many of them originate from or use elements of the Gothic movement. The streets leading from this place are rich in houses of an architecture that is difficult to imagine. For example, on the eastern side of the square there is the house “At the White Rhinoceros”, where the Gothic ensemble is broken by a Baroque facade. In Tynskaya Street, the house “At the Golden Finger” with a Gothic portal stands out.

The house “At the Stone Bell” on the corner of the same street and square is a three-story tower-palace with attached outbuildings.

Behind the facades of the buildings located opposite the Old Town Hall (Baroque-Rococo style) are houses from previous eras, with basements with Gothic arcades, reticulated vaults of passages and interesting architectural decorations. And there are a huge number of restaurants and pubs decorated in the style of medieval establishments in the area.

In the buildings of this square that were open to the public, I learned a lot of historical facts that allowed me to look at Prague and better understand why its cultural development went the way it did. It’s a pretty good experience: trying to imagine how iconic moments of past eras took place literally within these walls.

Address: Staroměstské náměstí.

How to get there: in fact, the same as to the Temple of the Virgin Mary in front of Tyn, since it is located near this square.

Wenceslas Square

This is the shopping and business center of the capital of the Czech Republic. Celebrations, demonstrations and many other events take place here. To a greater extent, the square resembles a boulevard. The architectural style was finally formed only in the 19th and 20th centuries. The main feature of the houses located along the square is that almost everyone has a “passage” - a passageway connecting Vaclavak with other streets. Let me explain that Wenceslas Square is the common name for Wenceslas Square, widely used by local residents and well-established tourists. Therefore, do not be surprised to hear this name in this form.

Address: Václavské náměstí.

How to get there: take the green metro line to Muzeum or Můstek station , take yellow to Můstek station or take red to Muzeum station . Also by tram to the stop Václavské náměstí or Národní třída.

Hradcanska Square

This place is located near Prague Castle. How to get there and what else you can see in the area, read. The square itself is of great interest: in the square laid out in the center there is a “Plague Column” in memory of the epidemic that took Prague by surprise. The square is surrounded by many beautiful palaces made in the Gothic and Baroque styles, which can also be read about in. And it is here that official state ceremonies often take place. Wandering among the buildings where kings lived and carried out their affairs, you involuntarily feel involved in some kind of secret.

Address: Hradčanske náměstí.

Paris street

This is a piece of France in the capital of the Czech Republic. According to the original plan, the entire area was supposed to be like in Paris, but only this street was improved. Houses here were built in all possible styles: neoclassicism, neo-Gothic, neo-Baroque. The street turned out to be not only elegant, but also somewhat pretentious, so the city residents did not want to live here. That is why the most expensive shops and restaurants in Prague are located here. The prices are truly astronomical, so save your nerves and don’t look at the local boutiques!

Address: Pařížská ulice.

How to get there: take the green metro line to the Staroměstská station, or by tram to the Staroměstská or Právnická fakulta stop.

The Charles Bridge

And it seems to me that you shouldn’t brag about having visited Prague until you have visited all the squares and streets listed above.

Monuments and fountains

Any city is rich in unusual sculptural groups, especially the capital, which is Prague. In addition, some creations carry not only an entertainment component, but also cultural and historical value.

Astronomical clock

They are one of the main attractions of the city and attract crowds of tourists every day. This medieval wonder not only shows the clock, but also the year, day, time of sunrise and sunset, as well as the position of the zodiac signs. All this is located on several dials.

According to legend, the creators of this miracle were immediately blinded so that they could not reproduce this beauty anywhere else. The clock rings every hour, and there is always a crowd of tourists under it, never tired of looking at it. During the battle, a skeleton figurine pulls the chain, and small statues of apostles and angels are shown in the windows. In terms of structure and shape, the dials can be attributed to the Baroque era, since they took on their final appearance after a major overhaul in the middle of the 19th century. But the figurines of apostles and angels are more likely attributed to the Gothic style.

Address: Staroměstské náměstí, ¼.

How to get there: exactly the same as to Old Town Square.

Fountain at the Kafka Museum

Perhaps the most scandalous creation of local author David Cherny. Represents two bronze men pissing. They stand in a puddle, shaped like a map of the Czech Republic. It is unlikely that this fountain is of particular architectural interest, but it is worth seeing this miracle. You can read more about him and the Kafka Museum at.

Address: Cihelná, 635/2a.

Old Jewish Cemetery

There are about 12 thousand monuments on the territory, while there are about 100 thousand graves themselves. Since the cemetery area is very small, and it is prohibited to destroy old graves, they decided to bury them in layers. Because of this, the tombstones stand close together, almost on top of each other. It’s worth visiting here simply out of curiosity; another culture often attracts interest.

Address: Starý Židovský hřbitov.

Krizkov fountains

These fountains are also called dancing or singing fountains, since the reproduction of various water figures is accompanied by light and music. I was here for one of the performances that usually take place in the evenings after it gets dark. The show was amazing! Some performances sometimes involve dancers - they jump and do various combinations of movements right among the streams of water. The entire action is controlled by a central computer, and a separate program is written for each representation.

The fountains are located opposite the exhibition complex Výstaviště Praha Holešovice (in the photo the building can be seen behind the fountains). There are many pavilions where various cultural events are held, and there is also a branch of the National Museum. It houses works of sculptors from different eras. Nearby is a sports complex where hockey matches and concerts take place. And nearby, in a wooden building, is the Globus summer theater.

The complex of singing fountains was built for the opening of the First Czech Industrial Exhibition in 1891. And they acquired their modern appearance thanks to reconstruction a century later, for the General Czechoslavak Exhibition. I believe that this is a unique creation, combining entertainment and technical achievements.

Address: Výstaviště, 67 16, 170 00 Prague 7 – Holešovice.

How to get there: by tram to the Výstaviště Holešovice stop.

Museums and galleries

We will not describe all the museums of the city, since this is a topic for separate article, we will focus only on those whose buildings are of architectural interest.

Jewish Museum

The museum conveys the unique atmosphere of the Jewish quarter. It is located in the center of the Jewish ghetto, in the Josefov district. The entire museum consists of many exhibitions scattered across six different buildings. The cemetery mentioned above is located nearby.

Inside the buildings there is a huge collection of books and items of national culture. The museum was founded by historian August Stein more than a hundred years ago. In the last century, during perestroika in Prague, the question arose about whether it was worth preserving so many Jewish synagogues. Some valuables were saved before the destruction of these buildings, and in 1906 the Prague Jewish Museum opened its doors. Not only rescued objects were presented as exhibits, but also important historical things of this people from many parts of the world.

Unfortunately, I was only in the building of the Spanish Synagogue. Exhibitions on the history of the Jewish Diaspora are held here. The church regalia of this people are also kept here. Organ and chamber music concerts are often held in the synagogue building. And by prior agreement, you can hold a real Jewish wedding here with all the traditions and customs! The architectural composition of this building is made in the Moorish style.

Address: U Stare školy 141/1.

How to get there: just like Paris Street, mentioned above, they are located very close.

National Museum

The entire museum is divided into several collections located in different buildings. The main one is located on Wenceslas Square and is its key object. Admit it, the city's oldest museum has an impressive appearance! The main building is made in the Neo-Renaissance architectural style, its creator was Joseph Schulz.

The museum was opened in 1818, at the height of the Czech National Revival. It was conceived as a local treasury. This part of the museum was built on the territory of a former horse gate, due to which it has great symbolic significance for local residents. Directly in front of the building is a sculpture depicting St. Wenceslas. On the main façade there are statues depicting the Vltava River and the Elbe, the lands of Bohemia, Moravia and Silesia. Under the central dome is the Pantheon, a collection of busts of great people of Czech culture.

In the summer of 2011, the main building of the museum was closed for reconstruction, which will last until 2018. But you can still admire its facade, sculptures and beautiful decoration.

Address: Václavské náměstí, 1700/68 / Mezibranská, 1700/6 / Legerova, 1700/71.

How to get there: the same as to Wenceslas Square, since the museum is located there.

Antonin Dvorak Museum

The exhibition of this museum tells about the life and work of the composer. Antonin's personal belongings and documents are presented here: music manuscripts, photographs, paintings and even goose feathers, with which he wrote down his scores.

The building was built in 1712-1720. It is a luxurious example of Baroque architecture. Initially, this was the summer residence of the aristocrat Vaclav Michne, which is why the building was often called the Michne Palace. The museum appeared here in 1932.

How to get there: you can get there by tram to the I. P. Pavlova or Štěpánská stops, or by metro on the red line to the I. P. Pavlova station.

Bertramka

This building houses the Mozart House Museum, opened in 1956. Originally there were vineyards here, and the building, built in the classicist style, was the villa of Frantisek of Bertramka, for which the house got its name. The house was sold several times until one day Mozart visited it during his visit to Prague. It was here that the great work “Don Juan” was written.

The composer's sons often visited this villa after Mozart's death, and the eldest became close to the son of the owner of the house, Adolf. Imbued with the work of the great composer, his father bequeathed to preserve Mozart’s things after his death and organize a museum in Bertramck.

The walls of each of the seven halls are covered with fabric, to which are attached the originals of the musician’s plays. Also here you can see manuscripts, posters, documents and even thirteen hairs from the head of the great Mozart! Sometimes chamber concerts are held in this building, at which the composer's works are performed.

Address: U Mrázovky, 169/2, Prague 5.

How to get there: by tram to the Bertramka stop, or by metro on the yellow line to Anděl station.

Vanguard at Jungmann Square

If you are close to the advanced architectural trends of the early 20th century, welcome to Jungmann Square. Avant-garde buildings are literally concentrated here.

In 1931, construction began on a department store entirely in the constructivist style.

Nearby there is a building shaped like an elongated rectangle, only one window wide. This is one of the first concepts of Rondo-Cubism.

Also in the latter style is the Adria Palace, built for an insurance company. Nowadays there is a restaurant and theater called Bez Zábradlí.

Inside these red and black walls today is the Mozarteum music store, but in 1913 it was home to a popular concert hall.

The antique street lamp is also reminiscent of Cubism and was designed by Emil Krajicek and Matej Blecht in 1912.

Address: Jungmannovo náměstí, 110 00 Praha.

How to get there: you can get there by tram to the Václavské náměstí stop, or by metro on the yellow or green line to the Můstek station.

Modern Art

I would like to highlight several objects from modern architectural trends in Prague. Some are beautiful in their own way, while others form a contrast with the cozy streets of Prague and bright red-orange roofs.

dancing House

It was created in the deconstructivist style of 1992-1996, which is characterized by broken, deliberately destructive forms. The building consists of two cylindrical towers - a normal one, extended upward, and a “dancing” one. With enough imagination, you can see a man and a woman, respectively. The house is located by the river in Prague 2, at the intersection of Resslova street and the embankment.

Address: Jiráskovo náměstí, 1981/6.

How to get there: by tram to the stop Jiráskovo náměstí or Karlovo náměstí , as well as by metro on the yellow line to the Karlovo náměstí station.

Žižkov TV Tower

Construction began in the 1980s and was completed in the 1990s after the collapse of Czechoslovakia. Throughout the entire period, the townspeople actively protested: the remodel in the high-tech style stood out against the backdrop of cozy medieval Prague. The common people dubbed the tower a “rocket on takeoff.”

But in 2000, local artist David Cherny came up with the idea to put a dozen huge babies on the tower, which helped the townspeople come to terms with this structure. Moreover, it is unclear: either this modification really decorated the cold high-tech, or I just had to accept it, since further modernizations only worsen the appearance.

Address: Mahlerovy sady, 2699/1a Žižkov, Prague 3, město Praha, 13000.

How to get there: by tram to the stop Lipanská or Olšanské náměstí , as well as by metro on the green line to the Jiřího z Poděbrad station.

By the way, pay attention to the cards that I insert into my articles. how convenient it is to use the 2GIS service, it helped me at least not get lost in the first days, and later it suggested a lot of useful information.

In conclusion, I would like to say that even if you do not understand architecture and do not know the features of various styles, this is not all that important. Just relax and admire the splendor around you. After all, even if you don’t know what something is called, it still looks beautiful! The architecture of the city made a tremendous impression on me; I want to walk the streets of Prague tens or hundreds more times, to see what had previously escaped attention.

Anything to add?

There are places in the world where every stone, every wall, every column breathes history. This is the Church of St. Martin in the Wall, which is located in the very center of Prague, in the Old Town. He has seen a lot in his lifetime: history has turned to him with both the light and dark sides, but the temple survived.

Regular services every Sunday: 10:30 mass in German, 19:30 mass in Czech.

Name of the church

At the end of the 12th century, Prague was actively built and expanded due to its suburbs. One of these was Uyezd, a small settlement directly opposite, on the right bank. The district had a patron saint, Saint Martin, and the villagers decided to build a church named after their saint, which happened in 1178. The church was one-nave, in the Romanesque style. The Church of St. Martin then resembled a fortress. The semicircular vault was supported by powerful walls and similar columns, and the church could be both a place of communication with God and a place of shelter from enemies.

Why did St. Martin's Church end up in the wall?

The county, together with its inhabitants, was donated to the Czech king Sobeslav II and thus became part of Prague. And in the middle of the 14th century, Charles IV decided to build new fortress walls, one of which divided the Church of St. Martin into two parts. Researchers and local historians are still arguing about the reason for this plan, but the fact remains: one part remained in the Old Town, the other in the New Town. But the temple lived, although this was not its first transformation. All that remains is the strange name - St. Martin's Church in the Wall.

Church architecture: music of centuries reflected in stone

The Church of St. Martin was built in the Romanesque style of early Christian buildings. At first it had one nave and a semicircular apse. The nave is an elongated space bounded on both sides by columns. Today one such column in the church has been preserved and can be seen.

Under Charles IV, the church was rebuilt in the Gothic style that was dominant at that time: the columns were raised and the ceiling was vaulted. Gothic rushed upward, towards God.

The last reconstruction took place in the 15th century thanks to one merchant family - the Golz family, who came from Kvetnice. Their coat of arms is still on the façade of the church. A small room in one of the side naves, a personal prayer place, also reminds of them. Then they raised the church even higher, one and a half meters, and made three naves and a ribbed ceiling. This is where the restructuring ended.

The church burned down in 1678 and was restored, and baroque details appeared in the decoration of the temple. The most interesting thing that appeared in the church after the fire was the painted wooden ceiling. In scenes from the Old Testament you can see the forefather Eve and the forefather Adam. Eve is naked, Adam is clothed. At that time, the image of men, except for Christ and the saints, was only on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, so the artist took a great risk when painting these heroes of the Bible. In 1779, parishioners built an entrance through which today parishioners and guests of the city enter the church.

Joseph II, the Austrian emperor, personally visited the Prague churches in the late 70s of the 18th century and issued a verdict: the church is harmful to health, and it is dangerous to be there. A warehouse was made in the building of the medieval temple. Dark times began for the church. Then there were trading shops there, and in the 19th century there was a restaurant, until a man named Camille Gilbert noticed the remains of that same Romanesque column in the restaurant and began researching. Thanks to him, the church began to be restored. Today it is an evangelical church.

Breath of history: events and legends

On the roof of the temple you can see a figurine of a boy. He stretched his mouth in a mocking smile. A legend about a petrified mocker is associated with this sculpture: the son of a poor woman, forced to work, was left to his own devices and preferred to have fun rather than help his mother. One day he climbed onto the roof of the cathedral and began to taunt a procession passing by. The mother, seeing this, shouted: “Petite!”, which is what happened. Since then, the prankster has been sitting on the roof and reminding everyone of the punishment for evil jokes.

However, the main event associated with the temple is significant for the history of the Hussite movement. There is a golden bowl in the center of the cathedral. The Hussites gathered here at a time when members of the movement were persecuted. Jan from Hradec, who served in the church, first began to give communion to parishioners with bread and wine. This is what the golden cup reminds of. Before this, only priests took communion with wine; Jan of Gradec and the Hussites, by this act, asserted that everyone was equal before God. Since then, the Hussites began to be called Chashniki.

Who knows how many more legends and stories the old walls hold, but the temple certainly hasn’t revealed them all yet. Living history is part of the present, the Church of St. Martin in the wall testifies to this.