Old Town Square
The clock has been in operation since 1410 — and 27 crosses in the pavement still mark where the Habsburgs beheaded their enemies.
Coming soon on iOS — be first to walk Prague offline.
Multiple centuries collide in one open square: a still-functioning medieval astronomical clock, a Gothic church whose twin towers have defined the skyline since the 1300s, and a public execution site Orthodox Czechs still refuse to step on.
What to look for
- Prague Orloj on the Old Town Hall wall — installed 1410, the oldest astronomical clock still in operation anywhere in the world
- 27 crosses set into the pavement outside the Old Town Hall, each marking one rebel beheaded here by Habsburg order after the Battle of White Mountain
- The twin towers of the Church of Our Lady before Týn, 80 m tall, serving as the neighbourhood's main church since the 14th century
The Old Town Hall tower is open to visitors and gives a panoramic view across the square and Old Town rooftops.
Old Town Square is one of 36 sights worth the detour in Prague, all bundled offline in Voyage GO — download the Prague pack and it sits on your map with no signal, filling your travel passport the moment you walk past.
More to see in Prague
- Prague CastleThe Guinness-record largest ancient castle on Earth — and the Czech president still works inside it.
- Charles BridgeCzech legend holds that Charles IV chose his construction start time — 5:31am on 9 July 1357 — because the digits form a palindrome he believed would imbue the bridge with additional strength.
- St. Vitus CathedralOne theory holds that the founding duke may have chosen St. Vitus partly because his name echoes a Slavic sun god — making conversion easier for a populace already devoted to the solar deity Svantevit. Christian and pagan communities shared this hilltop until at least the 11th century.
- Dancing HouseTwo interlocked towers shaped like mid-dance partners, built on a Vltava riverfront plot that sat bombed-out and derelict for decades.
- Prague Astronomical ClockEvery hour, a skeleton marks the time — on a clock mechanism that has been running since 1410.
- National Museum in PragueThe building that closes off Wenceslas Square has anchored Czech protests, rallies, and public life since 1891.