Old Town Square 🇨🇿

Old Town Square, locally known as Staroměstské náměstí or Staromák, is a historic central plaza situated in the Old Town quarter of Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic. Also known in German as Altstädter Ring, the square is located between Charles Bridge and Wenceslas Square. The surrounding area features a diverse collection of structures reflecting various architectural movements.

Several prominent historical buildings line the square, including the Gothic Church of Our Lady before Týn, which has served as the neighborhood's principal church since the 14th century and is recognized for its 80-meter-tall towers. Opposite this sits the Baroque St. Nicholas Church, while the nearby Kinský Palace houses an art museum under the Czech National Gallery. Attached to the Old Town Hall is the Prague Orloj, a medieval astronomical clock originally set up in 1410. It is the third-oldest astronomical clock in the world and the oldest one that remains functional today. Visitors can also access the Old Town Hall tower to view panoramic sights across the surrounding district.

At the center of the plaza stands the Jan Hus Memorial, erected on July 6, 1915, to mark the 500th anniversary of the religious reformer's death by burning in Konstanz, an event that sparked the Hussite Wars. Near the Old Town Hall, twenty-seven crosses embedded in the pavement and a 1911 plaque honor the martyrs, such as Jan Jesenius and Maxmilián Hošťálek, who were executed by the Habsburgs after the Battle of White Mountain. Installed during post-World War II building repairs, these crosses are traditionally stepped around by Orthodox Czechs out of reverence. The square also features a re-erected Marian Column; originally raised after the Thirty Years' War, the original structure was pulled down on November 3, 1918, to celebrate freedom from Habsburg rule before being reconstructed in 2020.

During holiday seasons, traditional Easter and Christmas markets designed to evoke medieval gatherings are held in the plaza, complete with a music stage and a tall decorated tree. The Christmas market is the largest in the country, drawing hundreds of thousands of domestic and international travelers, particularly from Germany, Russia, Italy, and Great Britain. In 2016, CNN included the location among its top ten Christmas markets globally.