- Address: Karlovo nám. 1/23, 120 00 Nové Město, Czech Republic
- Opening hours: Tue-Sun 10: 00-18: 00, Monday - closed
- Phone: +420 224 948 229
- Website: novomestskaradnice.cz
- Architectural style: Gothic architecture
In the historic area of Nowe-Mesto in Prague is located the New Town Hall, which in the XIV-XVIII centuries played the role of an important socio-political center of the capital. Now it is one of the national cultural monuments of the country.
The history of the New Town Hall
The construction of one of the prominent sights of Prague was conducted in several stages. First in 1377-1398 the eastern wing of the New Town Hall was built, which opens onto Vodichkov street. The Gothic Hall and the southern wing were commissioned in 1411-1418. In 1456, the construction of the main object of the New Town Hall in Prague, a six-story tower, was completed.
Until 1784, the building housed the residence of the municipal council, and then the criminal court and the pre-trial detention cell. Today, the town hall is used mainly for artistic exhibitions and other cultural events.
Architectural style and device of the Town Hall
Initially, the "pride of Charles Square" was built in the style of Gothic architecture. Now it is a large architectural complex, in which the features of Renaissance style predominate.
If you look at the New Town Hall above, you can see that it has a trapezoidal shape with four wings. In the eastern wing, which is the most ancient, you can see:
- a large two-nave hall with a vaulted ceiling on round pillars;
- Town Hall Maskhaus, who crowned the cross vaults;
- ancient wall inscriptions dating from the 17th century.
The design of the southern wing of the New Town Tower is dominated by features of a Renaissance and minimalism. Its ornaments are:
- Gothic hall, decorated with portals and ribbed vaults;
- ceiling, painted in 1599;
- Early Renaissance hall with wooden beams and the same portal;
- The Conselsky Hall, which is famous for the frescoes of the time of King Rudolph II.
The main building is adjoined by a tower 70 m high. On its facade, the late Gothic coat of arms of Novo-Mesta is still adorned. The lower floor of the Novosmenskaya tower was previously used as a prison, and the main part was reserved for the chapel of the Virgin Mary and Wenceslas. Initially, the chapel was made in the Gothic style, and in the 18th century, after the walls were decorated with gilded carvings, it acquired baroque features. Here you can also see:
- allegorical paintings about the meaning of law and justice;
- picture with the image of the Virgin Mary;
- wooden sculptures of saints, including the image of St. George.
In order to climb to the top of the tower, you will have to overcome 212 steps. Here you can see the standard of the old Czech measure of length - an elbow, the length of which is 59.27 cm. Not far from the tower is a monument to the national hero Jan Zhelivsky.
Visiting the New Town Hall in Prague is a unique opportunity to get acquainted with a landmark of world significance, which played an important role in the history and development of the Czech capital.
How to get to the Town Hall?
The Gothic cathedral is located in the heart of the Czech capital. From the area of Prague 1 to the New Town Hall, only 15 minutes walk. From other parts of the capital to the architectural monument can be reached by bus or tram. 160 meters from the town hall there is a tram stop Myslikova, which can be reached by routes Nos. 5, 12, 15, 20 or by buses Nos. 904 and 910. About 100-250 m from the cathedral there are tram stops Lazarska and New Town Hall.