Mala Strana is a unique example of Baroque architecture and the oldest historical district of Prague. Mala Strana, or Little Side, is located in the heart of Prague, between the Vltava River and two beautiful terraced hills. There is much evidence of how Prague and the royal dynasties of the country developed. The cobbled streets of the quarter remember Mozart, who often visited these places. Despite the compactness of the district, Mala Strana has many Baroque churches and palaces - this is where the wealthy population of the city has lived since time immemorial. You will hardly see any modern buildings. So take a stroll along the narrow streets and enjoy the tiled roofs and various attractions typical of the Czech capital.
The history of Mala Strana begins around the 10th century. A trade route once passed through the territory of the modern district. In the 1150s, the first stone bridge in the city and the third in Europe was built here, after which the settlement developed rapidly.
Later, the King of Bohemia Ottokar II built stone walls and other fortifications on this site to repel enemy attacks. The so-called "wall of hunger", also known as the "wall of bread", dates back to this period. According to legend, the future emperor took pity on the poor and their families and allowed them to participate in these constructions.
After that, new residents appeared in the city: the Czechs were first replaced by Germans, and from the 16th century by Italians. In the 1650s, Mala Strana was repeatedly destroyed and plundered during the Thirty Years' War in Europe. At that time, it was first plundered by the troops of Bishop Leopold of Austria, and a few years later fell under the influence of Swedish rulers.
17th-18th centuries were the heyday of Mala Strana. Active construction began in the area and many landmarks were created that have survived to this day. At the end of the 20th century, the place was thoroughly reconstructed.
The heart of Mala Strana is Malostranske Square (Malostranské Náměstí).
Previously, there was a market and a public execution site here. In 1620, the first Baroque palace was built in Prague, and in 1715, the "Plague Column" was erected, depicting the Holy Trinity and other saints.
There are other attractions on Malostranske Square. Namely, the Town Hall 15th century, where various cultural events and exhibitions are held nowadays:
Church of St. Nicholas 18th century (not to be confused with the Church of St. Nicholas on the Old Town Square):
The interior of the church should be highlighted:
Dome:
Altar:
And the organ that Mozart played (by the way, it was in this church that the "Requiem" of Mozart was first performed):
Opposite the Church of St. Nicholas is the Lichtenstein Palace, where the music department of the Academy of Arts is located:
The Church of the Virgin Mary (built in the 17th century) is located in the historical part of Prague, called "White Mountain", 500 meters from Charles bridge. It is a place of pilgrimage, especially respected by Czech Catholics.
The temple houses one of the shrines of the Czech Republic – the Esulatko of Prague. The statue of the newborn Jesus looks at all visitors. Whether it fulfills wishes can be determined by the numerous inscriptions of gratitude on the side of the altar.
Church address: Karmelitská 9, 118 00 Praha 1. To get there, take tram №12, 15, 20, 22, 23 to the stop Hellichova.
The Church of Our Lady under the Chain (12th century) is one of the oldest in Europe. There are three explanations for its name: the chain around the neck of the Virgin Mary, whose statue is in the church, the chain that prohibited entry to the bridge, the chain stretched between the banks so that ships could not enter without paying customs duties.
In this active Catholic church, it is worth noting the main altar, decorated with the painting "Madonna blessing the heroes of the Order of Malta before the Battle of Leponto", the altar with a wooden statue of the Virgin Mary, the Baroque pulpit and much more.
The address of the church: Velkopřevorské náměstí/ul.Lázeňská 118 00 Praha 1- Mala Strana.
St. Thomas Church (14th century) is another Gothic cathedral, famous for the fact that in its interior, instead of the images on the altar, copies of Rubens' paintings were used.
I mentioned the Liechtenstein Palace above. There are several dozen more palaces in Mala Strana, most of the Prague palaces are Wallenstein, Kaiserstein, Vrtbovský, Smíržický and others.
The Wallenstein Garden is one of the most beautiful parks in Prague:
In its southern part there is a wall of stalactites, in the northern part there is a magnificent fountain with a pond in which goldfish swim:
In the center there is a gallery Sala terrena.
To get there, take tram №1, 7, 11, 12, 15, 20, 22, 23, 25, 41 and get off at the stop Malostranské náměstí.
The next object is Kampa Island. The beautiful island, which is also called the "Venice of Prague", is located at the confluence of the Vltava River and the Čertovka Canal. You can get there by stairs from Charles Bridge, the Bridge of Legions, or by a small bridge from Maltese Square. Near this last bridge, the wheel of one of the three watermills has been preserved, on which sits a "water man" named Kaburek. This bridge is especially popular with newlyweds and couples in love - they hang padlocks here to bring them happiness.
On the island you will also see the John Lennon Wall:
The Kampa Museum and the yellow penguins:
Kafka Museum:
And the narrowest street in Prague, 70 centimeters wide:
Another attraction of Mala Strana is Petřín Hill with the Petřín lookout tower and many other interesting objects.
The Mala Strana district also includes two Malostranske Towers, erected at the beginning of Charles Bridge.
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