Prague´s Monuments

History of  Prague starts by foundation of the Castle. The prehistoric settlemet was mainly concetrated on the knolls at the present day city outskirts, even though the remainders of some ancient cultures have also been discovered by archaelogists at Vyšehrad, Zderaz and other places. The remains of other prehistoric localities were destroyed during the thousand years spent on the construction of the town.

As early as the 9th century, the first Christian Church of Our Lady was built on the territory of Prince´s fort, accompanied by buildings of St.Vitus and St.George churches. In 973 the first monastery (of St.George) in Bohemia was set up at the Castle and the Prague bishopric was founded.

During the 10th century the Přemyslid fort Vyšehrad was built on the steep rock above the right bank of the Vltava river, which became the principal Prince´s fort for some time in the 11th century. In the area between two castles many villages and settlements grew up over the year, usually with churches - which, however, were far from an organized municipal housing or a common administration institution.

Architectural styles in Prague

Romanesque Style

Gothic Style

Gothic style became an art style which is probably the most distinctive in an image of the city. There are hundreds maybe thousands of Gothic buildings in Prague. Among the most characteristic and most precious from a point of view are St.Vitus Cathedral, the Royal Palace with Vladislav Hall and nothern fortification of Prague Castle, the Old Town Hall with astronomical clock, House at the Stone Bell, Powder Gate, Convent of St.Agnes, Charles Bridge with bridge towers, the churches as: of Our Lady of Týn, of St.James, of  St.Giles, of St.Anne, of the Holy Ghost and of St.Martin  in the Old Town, the Old New Synagogue in Josefov, the churches of Our Lady below the Chain, of St.John of Baptist "Na prádle",  of St. Thomas,  then the Hunger Wall and others in Lesser Quarter. And  then it is necessary to mention  the New Town Hall, remains of  the fortification at Karlov, the Church of Our Lady "Na Slupi", the Church of St.Henry, the Church of St.Stephen, of St.Apollonarius,  the Church of Our Lady of Snow,  the Church the Assumption of Virgin Mary and Charlemagne at Karlov and Monastery all of them located in the New Town.

Renaissance

A marvellous example of this style in its purest form is the Royal Summer Palace at Prague Castle. Among other precious buildings are the Ball-Game House, Šchwarzenberk and Martinický palaces at Hradčanské Square, the Šternberk Palace and the Palace of the Lords of Hradec in the Lesser Quarter, the Golden Lane, main tower of the St.Vitus Cathedral, the Spanish Hall and Burgrave´s Palace at Prague Castle, the houses of Granovský, At the minute, At Two Golden Bears, At Bruncvík, At the Golden Tree, At Vejvodů in the Old Town and others.

Baroque style

Within the 17th century and in the first half of the 18th century a very active development took place in the ravaged Prague - the new monumental palaces, monastery areas as well as goergeous churches grow up - already in the Baroque style.  The Ranks of  the outstanding artists from Italy, France, Germany, Austria and Silesia are active in Prague, under whose influence a quality of work of the local architects, painters and sculptors grows up. Many of foreigners settled in Prague for good. In the Baroque Prague such excellent artists as : C.Lurago, F.Cartti, J.B.Mathey, G.B.Alliprandi, J.B.Fischer of Erlach, K.and K.I. Diezenhofer, A.Lurago, J.B.Santini, M.B.Braun, F.M.Brokof, F.X.Palko, J.L.Kracker and others were active. Among local ones were J.J.Bendl, K.Škréta, F.M.Kaňka, P.Brandl, J.K.Liška, V.V.Rainer and others. To the gems of Prague Baroque art belong for example the churches of Our Lady Victorious, of St.Francis, of St.Ignatius in the New Town, then Church of St.John of Nepomuk at Hradčany, Loreto at Hradčany, Clementinum in the Old Town, Wallenstein palace, then the Černín, Tuscany, Morzin, Clam-Gallas, Golz-Kinský, Archiepiscopal, Šternberk palaces at Hradčany. Further Michna Summer Palace, Italian palace gardens in the Lesser Quarter, the sculptural gallery at Charles Bridge, many burgher´s houses with charming house signs and others. The late Baroque reconstruction in the style of Classicism and Rococo dictade a modern appearance of the Prague Castle area, the Estates Theatre bears Baroque Classicism style.

Classicism

This style prevails in the first half of the 19th century and in its concept is closer and closer to the ancient models. There are no important Classicism works in Prague, among noteworthy monuments are: the tenement House Platýz at Národní Street, the Palace at the Hibernians and the Church of the Holy Rood at Na Příkopě street or the  Richter Summer Palace in the Lesser Quarter.

Historicist Pseudo-Styles

These styles imitate the Middle Ages building styles. The most distinctive was Pseudo-Gothic style: completion of St.Vitus Cathedral, modification of Powder Gate, reconstruction of the St.Petr and St.Pavel Church at Vyšehrad. And then it was Neo-Renaissance style, which represent such buildings as the National Theatre, the National Museum, Museum of the Arts and Crafts, the Czech Technical University, Lažanský Palace. An interesting Neo-Baroque building is represented by Straka´s Academy, today the seat of the Czech Government.

Art Nouveau Style

In Prague Art Nouveau style appears at the beginning of the 20th century, which represents such buildings as: the Municipal House, the Main Railway Station, Hlahol House, the Chamber Theatre, Topič Publishing House, the House at Nováks, some houses at Josefov, Čech´s Bridge.

Cubism

It is a very special style, which in Bohemia as in only one European country gained ground even in the architecture. The most beautiful Cubism buildings are: the Teacher´s houses at E.Krásnohorská street, villas below Vyšehrad, the House at the Black Madona.

Rondokubism, Functionalism, Constructivism

After origin of the Czechoslovak Republic the several modern styles were used. As example of Rondocubism we have to mention building of Legionbank at Na Poříčí street. Functionalism was also a style of the several buildings developed after World War II such as department stores, the Palace of Culture at Pankrác - now Congress Centre.