Mala Strana

The Little Quarter was founded in 1257 and spreads from the slopes below the Prague Castle where one can admire wonderful view from the streets across the river to the Old Town. Pramyslid Otakar II invited German merchants to set up shops beneath castle walls. But not much remained from this period. Most of the buildings were built in seventieth century and later. Wealthy Catholic aristocracy won huge pieces of land in the property redistribution that followed the Thirty Years' War. Later on it was a center of writers and poets, drunks and mystics. Today embassies of United States, Great Britain, Italy, France, Germany or many others can be found there. The Quarter is full of souvenir shops, restaurants, pubs and cafes. Instead of any other shops many business firms have their offices there and Czech parliament is located in one part of Little Quarter.
One of the busiest parts of the Quarter is Nerudova Street leading down from the Prague Castle to the Malostranske Square.

Malostranske Square

The square could be called the heart of the Little Quarter, it is surrounded by large Baroque palaces and Renaissance townhouses. To the square dominates Baroque church of St. Nicholas, which divides the square in two.

Church of St. Nicholas

Wallenstein Palace and Gardens

The palace is one of the first building of Baroque era in Prague. It stands as a monument to the fatal ambition of imperial military commander Albrecht von Wallenstein (1581-1634). The intention of building this palace was to overshadow even Prague Castle. The palace was built during 1624-1630, designed by the Milanese architect Andrea Spezza. The impressive main hall rises to a height of two stories with a ceiling fresco of Wallenstein himself portrayed as Mars. It is now the Ministry of Culture but concerts are held there sometimes as well.
The entrance to the palace's gardens is from Letenska. The statues in the garden are now copies, the original ones were stolen by Swedes in 1648. At the far end of the garden is a large ornamental pond with a statue in its center. There is a the old Riding School housing exhibition of modern art by the National Gallery.

Vojan Park

It used to be the garden of the Convent of Barefooted Carmelits. it is hidden behind white walls and dates back in the 17th century. There are two chapels which survived among fruit trees and park's lawn. One is the Chapel of Elijah it takes the form of stalagmite and stalactite cave, the other is dedicated to St. Theresa. On the left from the entrence is statue of john Nepomuk standing on a fish by Ignatz Platzer. it is the reference to his marthyrdom by drowning in the Vltava.

Kampa Island

Going from Malostranske Square down along Mostecka street under the Charles Bridge you come to the Kampa Island known before as an "Island" only. The Devil's Stream, Certovka, splits Kampa from the main land. The stream got its name in the 19th century supposedly after the temper of a lady who owned a house nearby in Maltese Square. From Kampa you can see the remains of three old mills. Beyond the Grand Prior Mill the stream disappears under a small bridge bellow the piers of charles Bridge. During the Middle Ages there were almost only gardens on Kampa, and the island was used for washing clothes or bleaching linens. The island became well known for its pottery markets in the 17th century. At one side of Na Kampe Square starts a quiet park, made out of two old palace gardens.

Maltese Square

The Square is named after the Priory of the Knights of Malta once occupying this part. Vladislav II offered them a refuge to Prague. Their eight-pointed cross can be seen all over the square. Most of the houses were built during Renaissance, but after take over by Catholic nobility many of them were rebuilt, or converted into a Baroque palaces. The largest of them is Nostic Palace standing on the southern side. There is a dutch Embassy in part of the building. In summer classical concerts are held there. In attractive Rococo painted in pink was designe d by Joseph Jager. In this Turba Palace is now Japanese Embassy.

Grand Priory Square

On the northern side of the square stands the former seat of the Grand Prior of the Knights of Malta. The palace dates from about 1720 and its windows, doorways and decorative vases were made by Matthias Braun. Another delightful Baroque building is Buquoy Palace, now French Embassy. On the opposite side there is a Lennon Wall, which stands there since Lennon died. It was dedicated by city's hippies to their idol, and messages of love, peace and rock'n'roll are all across the wall. In 1998 the John's portrait was saved and the wall was renewed thanks to a Beatle fan, who came to the rescue as one of the French Ambassador.

Church of Our Lady beneath the Chain

It is the oldest church in Little Quarter founded in 12th century. It was presented by Vladislav II to the Knihts of St. John, which later became known as Knihts of Malta. It stood in the centre of the Knighs' heavily fortified monastery that guarded the approach to the old Judith Bridge. the name of the church referes to the chain which used to close the monastery gatehouse in Middle Ages. Carlo Lurago gave to the church new Barogue facelift in 1640 and Karel Skreta painted the high altar showing Virgin Mary and John the Baptist coming to the aid of the Knights of Malta in the famous naval victory over the turks at Lepano in 1571.