Charles Square

Why go

Charles IV laid out this square for his New Town in 1348. Today the planted centre softens its scale, while New Town Hall, St Ignatius Church and Faust House help you read the original civic setting. It is especially useful when walking between central New Town sights.

What to look for

• New Town Hall stands on the north side of the square.
• St Ignatius Church and Faust House face the park from its edges.
• Sculptures and a Baroque fountain break up the planted centre.

The full story

Charles Square began as a main open space of the New Town founded by Charles IV in 1348. Along with Wenceslas Square and Senovážné Square, it formed part of a deliberate extension of Prague beyond its older core. The New Town Hall on its north side shows the civic importance intended for this space. In 1419, councillors were thrown from its windows during the First Defenestration of Prague, an event tied to the start of the Hussite Wars. Later centuries added a different layer around the square, including the Baroque St Ignatius Church. The centre became a park in the nineteenth century. Walking through it now gives a clear sense of the square's original size while the surrounding façades show how the New Town changed around that medieval plan.

Useful to know

• Cross the park on foot to take in both its green centre and the surrounding buildings.
• Pair the square with nearby Emmaus Monastery or the New Town streets rather than treating it as a long standalone visit.

Your next visit

Estimated · Declared scenario and planning estimates; no live opening, weather, queue or booking service.