HRADČANY

Description

Essentials about Hradčany in brief

Hradčany (Castle Town) is the district to the west of Prague Castle that, along with the old town and the Malá Strana, is one of the most beautiful areas of the Czech capital. The many beautiful noble palaces and numerous gardens worth seeing make a walk through Hradčany absolutely worthwhile.

The name “Hradčany”

In contrast to the Czech language, it has become misleadingly common in German to use the term “Hradschin” to refer to the castle hill or, indirectly, Prague Castle. However, it is correct to use “Hradčany” for the district west of the castle, which was one of the four Prague towns until 1784.

The history of Hradčany

Hradčany was probably founded in 1320 by the Burgrave Hynek Berka of Dubá as the third Prague town after the old town and the Malá Strana. Unlike the other Prague towns, however, Hradčany was not a free town, but was subject to the castle counts until the end of the 16th century. Initially, the settlement was concentrated only around Hradčany Square (cz. “Hradčanské náměstí”). During the reign of Emperor Charles VI, the town complex was expanded and included in the common ring of walls with the Malá Strana.

After a devastating fire in 1541, the town underwent a complete transformation with the construction of palaces for the clergy (archbishop and canons) and the nobility. Important Bohemian noble families such as the Czernins, Lobkowitz, Salms and Schwarzenbergs built their magnificent palaces here. Only the layout of Hradčany Square remained largely unchanged. In 1598 Hradčany was elevated to the status of a royal town by Rudolf II. In the 18th century Hradčany was finally united with the city of Prague.

The sights of Hradčany

The best starting point for a walk through Hradčany is Hradčany Square with its Baroque Marian Column and the monument to Tomáš Masaryk, the first president of Czechoslovakia. Around the square are some beautiful historical buildings such as the Archbishop’s Palace and the Schwarzenberg Palace, probably the most beautiful Renaissance palace in Prague.

Just not far from Hradcany Square, film and Mozart fans will definitely recognize a house, and it is the so-called “Kanonikerhaus” (cz. “Dům kanovníků”). It served as a backdrop for Mozart’s home in the world-famous film Amadeus by Milos Forman. Walking past the canon’s house, you enter Nový Svět (meaning “New World”) alley, which is certainly one of the most picturesque historical streets in Prague.

A few meters further to the west is Loreto Square (cz. “Loretánské náměstí”), which was created between 1703 and 1726, when the Černín noble family bought the houses standing here, demolished them and had the square redesigned. Slightly elevated stands the mighty Černín Palace, today the seat of the Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs, with its 150-meter-long main front. Across the square is the beautiful Baroque complex of buildings of the Loreta Capuchin Monastery. Just a stone’s throw south from Loreto Square is the imposing complex of the Strahov Monastery.