Think Wenceslas Square is Prague’s largest? Think again.
While Wenceslas Square holds deep historical significance, the title of Prague’s largest square belongs to Charles Square, covering over 80,000 square meters. This often-overlooked space is not only the largest square in Prague but ranks among the largest in Europe.
Brief History
Charles Square (in Czech: Karlovo náměstí) – formerly known as the Cattle Market – spans an impressive 80,552 square meters—nearly double the size of Wenceslas Square.
With Wenceslas Square (Horse Market) and Senovážné náměstí (Hay Market), it became one of the newly founded town’s three main squares.
These squares were connected with one street (today streets Vodičkova and Jindřišská). Charles Square was supposed to be the most important square of the New Town of Prague and probably of the whole of Prague, therefore the Town Hall of the New Town was built there.
Despite these plans the most important square later became Wenceslas Square.
On 30 July 1419 the Hussite Wars broke out in this square, when Hussites led by priest Jan Želivský threw some Catholic councilors from windows of the New Town Hall. This event is called “the First Defenestration of Prague”.
Today’s Charles Square as it looked in 1816. Map Credit: https://www.iprpraha.cz
Notable Landmarks on Charles Square
Charles Square is home to several important architectural gems. The Baroque Church of St. Ignatius of Loyola, formerly a Jesuit church, stands as a prominent feature of the square. Surrounding the square are additional historical buildings that add to its charm.
Among the oldest buildings are the New Town Hall building, dating back to the time of Charles IV, and the Mladota Palace (Faust House); other significant buildings include the neo-Renaissance Czech Technical University building.
The Breweries
The effect of having a cattle market on Charles Square also led to a boom in breweries in the area not just because there was a market but also because of what was being used in it.
Two of the streets that bisect Charles Square are called Ječna and Žitna which translate as Barley Street and Corn Street and would have been the main route into the city for cereal cattle feed. Žitna on its own had more than twelve breweries.
World War Two
Charles Square was the scene of the single biggest loss of life in the accidental bombing of the city on February 14th, 1945 when a building being used for shelter received a direct hit killing almost 100 people. Another WW2 location is just 200 meters away down the hill called Resslova. On the right is the Church of ST Cyril and Methodius.
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