Prague was living through its golden age during the reign of Charles IV when the city became the centre of The Holy Roman Empire. The Old Town could no longer manage to absorb the stream of newcomers and a whole new town was to be created and separated to the current Prague’s Bigger Quarter.

The town wall were completed two years after its establishment in 1348, they were 3,5 km long and access into the town was trough four gates. The town is naturally divided into two halves between which lies Horse Market – today’s Wenceslas Square, the centre of the upper New Town was the Cattle Market – today’s Karlovo namesti and the centre of the lower New Town was the Hay Market – today’s Senovazne namesti. All three markets / squares are connected with Jindrisska and Vodickova streets. The streets in a new emergent town were laid out in the form of cross and only few streets were not straight. The new churches and monasteries were not built by chance, but were on carefully selected sites. Look on the map for imaginary line and a cross formed by these churches, Church of Our Lady na Slovanech, Church of Our Lady na Karlove, Church of Our Lady na Travnicku and Church of St. Katherine.

The majority of the ecclesiastical buildings were financed by the Emperor himself. To the monasteries, Charles IV invited the monks from France, Italy, Saxony or Bavaria. By doing this he established a symbolic international, spiritual centre which fully corresponded with the political significance of Prague.

The New Town became a refuge for the socially weaker groups of inhabitants and also noisier crafts from the Old Town were transferred there. That could be one of the reasons why the New Town during the Hussite Wars maintained a major radical stand point than the largely mercantile Old Town.

The New Town kept its independence until 1784 when all the Prague towns (Old town, New Town, Little Quarter and Hradcany) were brought together. At the begging of the 20th century the construction of the embankment was finished, and new river bank avenues were reflecting the spirit of a modern town.

Municipal House

Typical Art Nouveau building was built during 1906 – 1911 according to A. Balsanek andO. Polivak on the site of the Royal Court, that was built by Wenceslas IV in 1383 as the king´s residence, it served to this purpose until 1483. For the security reasons the King Vladislav Jagellon moved back to the Castle. In the 17th and 18th century there was a Archbishop seminar and later on it served as KASARNA. After total demolition the representative building was created.
The façade is decorated with a mosaic by Karel Spilar “Home to Prague” and a statue by Ladisalv saloun “the subjugation and resurrection of the Nation. Many prominent Czech artists from the begging of the 20th century including Almons Mucha participated in the decoration or the six halls and state rooms. On 28th October 1918the independence of Czechoslovakia had been announced here. Smetana hall is known mainly for its classical music concerts.

Powder Tower

The gate was built as a part of town fortification and through which led the road to Kutna Hora and eastern Bohemia. The tower was built after 1475 by late Gothic architect Matej Rejsek for the King Vladislav Jagellon on the site of the Odrana Gate. Originally it was named Mountain Tower and its name Powder Tower gained only in the 17th century when a store of gunpowder was kept there. Next to the tower used to stand the Royal Court, the short lived residence of the Czech rulers. The court was founded by king Wenceslas IV and was inhabited later by Zikmund of Luxemburg, Posthumus or George of Podebrady. King Vladislav Jagellon moved from here in the end back to the Castle in 1483.
Most of the decoration has been destroyed over time, especially in 1757 when Prague was besieged by Prussian troops. A large part of the modern decoration was done between 1875 – 1886, carried out by Josef Mocker.
In the past from here also used to start so called Kings Route that used be taken by Czech rulers to the Castle via today’s Celetna street, Old Town Square, Small Square, Charles Bridge, Mostecka street, Little Quarter Square and Nerudova street.