The Lesser Town is perhaps the most interesting part of Prague with a special atmosphere. It is one of the oldest parts of Prague, with a number of attractive historical monuments such as the Church of St Nicholas and the Church of Our Lady Victorious with the Infant Jesus of Prague.
The Lesser Town is situated between Prague Castle and the Vltava River. This area includes the whole of Prague 1, part of Prague 5, large part of Petřín Hill and part of Charles Bridge.
History
In the 13th century, the New Town was established on the grounds of today’s Lesser Town. Over the centuries, its appearance changed several times. In the 16th century, the area was struck by fire which destroyed many of its original buildings. Later, when Rudolph II’s imperial court moved to Prague Castle, Italian architects left their marks on many buildings in the area. Over the years, mainly church buildings were established. The Lesser Town remained a separate town until 1784 when it was included in the Royal Capital of Prague. The architecture of the Lesser Town has remained preserved, with the small exception of the reconstruction of several blocks behind the Lesser Town Square in 1992.
Places to see in the Lesser Town
Lesser Town Square
The Lesser Town Square is located in the centre of the Lesser Town. There is a town hall and many other important houses and palaces. The most notable is the Church of St Nicholas, dating back to the 18th century, which is visible from both the left and right banks of the Vltava River. It is decorated with an impressive dome with a fresco of the Holy Trinity.
Churches
The Church of Our Lady Victorious, one of the oldest Baroque buildings in Prague, is another notable building, which is famous mainly for the Infant Jesus of Prague. The Church of St Michael in the Kinský Garden is also worth visiting, as well as the Church of St Joseph near Charles Bridge and the Church of St Lawrence on Petřín Hill.
Kampa
Kampa Island is cut off the Lesser Town by the Čertovka stream. It is an ideal place to relax.
Petřín
Petřín is a hill with a large park, a lookout tower resembling a smaller version of the Eiffel Tower and the Mirror Maze. The top of Petřín Hill can be reached by a funicular. Visitors can visit the Baroque Vrtba Garden and the Wallenstein Garden, both free of charge.
John Lennon Wall
The John Lennon Wall is a wall with graffiti and writings dedicated to John Lennon and the Beatles. The Wall was unacceptable for the Communist regime and thus repainted several times.
Museums in the Lesser Town
In 2005, an exhibition dedicated to Franz Kafka, one of the greatest figures of world literature, was opened in the Lesser Town. Besides the Franz Kafka Museum, there are a number of other museums to visit: the Museum Kampa with its exhibition of modern art, the Czech Museum of Music, the private Museum Montanelli, which organizes monographic and group exhibitions of various artists, and the Musaion in the Kinský Garden on Petřín Hill, which focuses on the regional culture of the Czech Republic.
Where to eat
Herbertova Cihelna restaurant offers the best views of the Vltava River and Charles Bridge. Their menu includes burgers, Asian meals and gourmet pizza. Panoramic views of Prague and traditional Czech cuisine – this is what visitors can enjoy in Nebozízek restaurant located on the hillside of Petřín.
Noi is one of the best Thai restaurants in the whole of Prague. It combines a modern interior with a lively atmosphere and offers traditional Thai meals.
The Italian snack bar called Ichnusa Botega is also a great place to enjoy a friendly family atmosphere.
Coffee
Starbucks, an international chain of coffee shops, is right on the Lesser Town Square. Malostranská beseda is a place to go to enjoy the local atmosphere. The building was originally a town hall, but today there is a café and pub on the ground floor and a music and theatre club, videocafé bar and gallery on other floors.
Other nice cafés include the vegan Bread Gap, Bella Vida Café with outdoor seating by the Vltava River, Kafíčko, which offers delicious desserts and real whipped cream, and Cukr Káva Limonáda, where you can go for a quick lunch.