Theatre - 1B

The district of Nové Město (New City) was built by King Charles IV in 1348; partly to celebrate his coronation under the Holy Roman Empire, and partly since the ancient city walls could no longer withhold any more citizens, many of whom had started to build houses in the areas surrounding the city. The area includes a number of magnificent gothic buildings and baroque churches.
The unique feature of this new city was that Charles IV aimed to create a completely separate settlement rather than a suburb annex of the old city. From the very beginning Nové Mesto had an independent legal framework to the Staré Mesto (Old City).
The district became the King’s residence as well as the site of the first Central European University. The area was also the home of the most under-privileged classes – Czech artisans, beer manufacturers and workers settled here, whereas the old town was where the higher classes, German craftsmen and Jewish communities chose to live. This major economic difference between the social strata had a profound effect on the separation of the two cities – the old and new.
The new city area developed around three main points – the Wenceslas square, the Senovazné square and the Charles IV square.
Wenceslas square, a former horse and cattle market, is currently one of the city’s main thoroughfares. Over time it has maintained its commercial character and is a hub of numerous restaurants, shops and night clubs.
At one end of the square is the National Museum that dates back to 1818. This neo-renaissance style building today hosts different exhibitions on natural history, art and music. Opposite the museum and dominating the whole square is the statue of Saint Wenceslas dating from the beginning of the XX century, and an alter commemorating the victims of communism including the statue of the student Jan Palach who sacrificed himself on the steps of the museum in protest of government censorship.
The district is well connected to the rest of Prague and makes it an ideal choice for visitors wishing to stay outside the city centre.
In the south of Nové Mesto there are a number of tram lines that run directly to Charles IV Square or Karlovo Námestí, where visitors will find a beautiful garden set in its centre – a really peaceful spot to escape the busy urban pace of the city. It is also the site of the famous Faust House which according to local legend was the home of Doctor Faust who sold his soul to the devil and sealed the pact with his own blood. A number of the baroque buildings that surround the square belong to the university and the statues in the centre represent famous national writers and scientists.
Following the river leads to the historical Meaux Benedictine monastery that was established in 1372 and still conserves its valuable XIV century walls. Just a short distance from the monastery are the Botanical Gardens and the Saint John Nepomucene Church (Kostel Jana Nepomuckého).