In 1949, the historical New Town was administratively split into two artificially created districts – Prague 2 and Prague 3. Then in 1960, the northern part of the New Town, separated by streets Myslikova, Lazarska and Žitna was allocated to Prague 1 and southern parts to Prague 2.

Despite all the different building interventions that have taken place since the New Town was founded, the original thought-out plan of the unique gothic town can still be documented, thanks to its founder Charles IV and the specialists that he entrusted to do the work.

What was the original settlement like?

However, the New Town was not built from scratch. Buildings had been erected in many places a long time before its foundation. Poříč, a settlement of German merchants with St. Peter’s and St Kliment’s churches, came into existence as early as the Romanesque period. A skinners settlement spread to the northernmost point with St Peter in Race’s and St Vojtěch’s churches. To the south, there was a settlement called Zderaz and right beside it a fishing village Podskali. Then there was Opatovice settlement around St. Michael’s Church, Ujezd settlement, which was also well-known, there was also St. Lazar’s sick-house and a Jewish garden near Spalena Street, settlement Rybnicek with St Stephen’s Rotunda to the east of Charles Square and a little bit further homesteads Bojiště and Chudobice in the area of today’s Politických Vězňů Street.

A unique system of streets

The New Town is formed by a scheme of three street systems around three big squares, which originally used to be markets. The natural centre of the whole system is the Horse Market (Wenceslas Square), which will be dealt with separately in a different article, which will e.g. tell you who suggested the present name.

The centre of the lower part of the New Town is the Hey Market (Senovážné Square) and the centre of the upper part is Livestock Market (Charles Square). This third and majestic space was meant to be the actual centre of the New Town, this is why the New town Hall was built there. Charles Square will be dealt with in a separate article, so let me just remind you that the three big markets were connected by Vodičkova and Jindřišská Streets. Elevated places then became convenient locations for sanctuaries, more specifically St Charles the Great’s Church, the Monastery Pod Slovany, St Catherine’s and St Apolinar’s churches.

Gateways

The city walls were obviously the basis of the whole project. They were needed for the protection of the New Town and were finished as soon as 1350. There were four gateways to the town – Poričská, Koňská, Horská and Žitná. The walls were 3 430m long and the walled area was 360 ha. Poříčská Gateway was situated near the place of Těšnov Railway Station, which does not exist any more. Originally there had been Špitálská Gateway, situated closer to the Vltava. Its name was derived from Špitálské Field, i.e. today’s Karlín.

At the east end of Senovážné Square, which is called U Bulhara, used to be Horska (Hill) Gateway or also Vídeňská (Vienna) Gateway. The name was given to the gateway because the road that lead from it continued to Kutná Hora, Jihlava and Vienna. The gate was then rebuilt in a baroque style between the years 1655 and 1666 and it was named New Gateway.

The powerful Konska (Horse) Gateway, i.e. St Prokop’s Gateway was first rebuilt in Empire style in 1836, according to the project of architect Petr Nobile. However, it was pulled down in 1875.

It is not without interest that Poříčská, Horská and Koňská Gateway became witnesses of violent fights when Prague was being conquered by the Swedes, however, they managed to resist. Koňská gateway did not have a draw bridge and there was a garden in front of it. There was a view place on the upper area of the gate, which was one of Praguers’ favourite places. A park-like promenade called ‘Na Šancích’ with playgrounds, trees, benches and two concert cafes led to the gateway.

Žitná Gateway was located at the top of today’s Žitná Street and it led to Vršovice and Nusle. The name of Mezibranská Street reminds us until today of Žitná and Koňská gateways.

What was managed in twenty years

A mere twenty years was enough for the New Town to receive the form that was drawn in the audacious plans of its founder. After that, only the most difficult work on the Church of the Virgin Mary, St Jeronyme’s Church in Slovany and Our Lady of the Snow. The successful development of the town took one hundred years until it was interrupted by the Hussite Wars. Unfortunately, mostly Romanesque churches that had been founded before the New Town, disappeared forever during the wars.

Over many centuries only partial changes to the original buildings were made in the New Town. This is how they remained well preserved until the 19th century. However, in the 19th century, some irretrievable interventions took place and they continued until the 20th century. Podskali, Vojtěch’s Quarter and Petrská Quarter with their picturesque mills thus changed completely or even disappeared.