Lesser Town (Malá Strana)

The Lesser Town was officially founded in 1257, although there were settlements here before that.

It is a wonderfully picturesque part of the city with a nice central square and cobbled side streets, where ancient burgher houses have been transformed into boutique shops and quaint cafés, and where visitors will find charming historic pubs and restaurants.

The Lesser Town also boasts many grand, majestic buildings, such as Liechtenstein Palace, and beautiful churches, such as St. Nicholas Church and the Church Of Our Lady Victorious; the latter is home to the venerated Infant Jesus Of Prague.

To add to this, the Lesser Town is the main embassy district in Prague, a number of which are housed in delightful Baroque buildings.

Unsurprisingly, the entire Lesser Town is a popular location to shoot movies and commercials.

The focal point of the Lesser Town is the Baroque Lesser Town Square. At its centre, and dividing the square in two, is the Lesser Town’s foremost landmark, St. Nicholas Church.

Charles Bridge is the main pedestrian connection between the two sides of Prague. A multitude of tourists stream across it every day, as they pass over from the Old Town to the Lesser Town, and continue on up to Prague Castle via Nerudova street - as an aside, Nerudova is a good area to pause for lunch or a quick beer. It can be thirsty work climbing up to the castle!

Another nice part of the Lesser Town to visit is Kampa Island. To reach it, as you cross over Charles Bridge from the Old Town, before you leave the bridge below you on the left side is Na Kampa Square, accessible via some steps.

Na Kampa Square is lined with cafés and restaurants, and often hosts small markets, most notably Easter and Christmas markets.

If you walk through the square and out the other side, eventually you arrive at a riverside park called Kampa, which is a pleasant place to stroll around.

If you are looking for accommodation in Prague, the Lesser Town is a lovely area to stay in. It is quieter than the Old Town and New Town, it is slightly cheaper too, and yet it offers easy pedestrian access to the sights and entertainment in both.

Hotels in the Lesser Town are mostly charming old buildings with plenty of character, beautifully restored, and retaining original features.

If you get the chance to wander through the Lesser Town at night, you will likely find it almost deserted. Its lantern lit side streets offer a sense of wonder, a real feel of olden day Prague.

History of the Lesser Town: The Lesser Town started life in the 8th century as a market settlement.

In 1257, King Premysl Otakar II granted it town status.

Between 1360-1362, fortifications were added by order of Charles IV. Known as the Hunger Wall (Hladova Zed), it is believed they were built to give employment to the poor during a period of famine.

The Lesser Town has been devastated twice: first during a battle between the Hussites and the Prague Castle garrison in 1419, then in the Great Fire of the Lesser Town in 1541.

The destroyed houses were replaced with magnificent Renaissance buildings and palaces. And in the 17th and 18th centuries, Baroque churches and palaces were added.

While it is mainly the Baroque buildings we see today, a significant number of the original buildings did survive the devastation, and operate as pubs, restaurants and hotels.

To explore the sights in Prague, take a Prague tour.