The Lesser Town Square (Malostranské náměstí) in Prague lies at the heart of the Lesser Town (Malá Strana) and has been the hub of this side of the river since the 10th century.
At its centre, and dividing the square in two, is the magnificent St. Nicholas Church, the Lesser Town’s foremost landmark. In the upper half of the square, opposite the entrance to St. Nicholas is the beautifully restored Liechtenstein Palace, which hosts a regular programme of classical concerts.
In the lower half of the square there is a major tram stop, from which you can travel in one direction to Wenceslas Square, and in the other to Prague Castle.
Lining the Lesser Town Square and the streets nearby are cafes, restaurants, quaint pubs, small shops, and several embassies housed in delightful Baroque buildings. Among the historic buildings lining the square is the city's original Town Hall (subsequently renamed the Lesser Town Hall, and today known as Malostranská beseda). Here in 1575, non-Catholic nobles wrote the “Ceske Konfese” (Czech Confession), a pioneering demand for religious tolerance addressed to the Habsburg emperor, and which was eventually passed into law by Rudolf II in 1609. Another building of note is Smiricky Palace at No. 18. It was here that Czech nobles gathered on May 22, 1618. The next day they threw two Habsburg councillors out of a window at Prague Castle, an act which set off the Thirty Year’s War.
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To explore the sights in Prague, take a Prague tour. |