Old Town: Walk through the heart of historical Prague

The terrain on the route is predominantly flat, without any significant elevations and steps (stairs). Short narrow corridors have a minimal width of 90 cm. In regard to barrier-free status, some sections with rough historical pavement or with a difficult lateral slope of the sidewalk are the most difficult. It is possible to handle the route unaccompanied, but taking into account the general surface quality of the streets of the historical centre and the relatively difficult accessibility of the sites, we do recommend an escort.

Difficulty Rating: Easy to Moderate 
Route Length: 3 km
Download: Four Accessible Walks in Prague 1

ROUTE DESCRIPTION

|→ Náměstí Republiky Square → Na Příkopě → arcade Myslbek →

The first interesting landmark we encounter, located right at the beginning of the route, is the Municipal House (Obecní dům). It was built at the beginning of the 20th century by the Prague Royal City Council as a cultural and social centre. The highest level of crafts-manship was employed here, and the most prominent artists of the day participated in creating the interior decorations.

In the 15th century, on the site of today’s Municipal House there stood the King’s Court, one of the royal residences of Czech kings; royal coronation processions had their starting point here. A reminder of that time is the late Gothic Powder Tower (Prašná brána), once a formal entrance to the Old Town of Prague. The tower was built on one of the most important trade routes of that time, leading from Kutná Hora, a city whose silver mines brought great profits to the Royal Treasury.

Using a modified crosswalk in front of Powder Tower, we arrive at Na Příkopě Street, a major shopping avenue. The wide right-hand side sidewalk will lead us to the modern building of the Myslbek Palace, whose arcade will provide a shortcut to Ovocný trh Square. The arcade of the palace is in a slight incline (slope 2-3%) and among several shops and restaurants also offers sanitary facilities with an accessible toilet.

→ Ovocný trh → Celetná Street → Old Town Square (Staroměstské náměstí) → Malé náměstí →

Ovocný trh is a small square with several landmark buildings. Foremost among these, the Classicist Estates’ Theatre (Stavovské divadlo) dominates the square. In the immediate vicinity of the theatre is the building of Karolinum, the historical headquarters of Charles University. The perimeter surface of the square is made of finer mosaic cobblestone; the remaining central section is predomi-nantly paved with coarse granite tiles.

From Ovocný trh, which is a pedestrian zone, we will head north-east towards Celetná Street, passing on the left a great Cubist land-mark the House at the Black Madonna (Dům U Černé Matky Boží). It was built in 1911-1912 according to the design of the Czech architect Josef Gočár. In addition to the Museum of Czech Cubism, there is a stylish café and a sanitary facility with a modified toilet. The name of the building comes from the Baroque statue placed on the corner of the façade.

The walk then continues via Celetná Street and will lead us to Old Town Square (Staroměstské náměstí) that has over the centuries witnessed many crucial historical events. The square, once the site of Prague’s most important market, is surrounded by several patrician houses from the 12th and 13th centuries, the Town Hall and a parish Cathedral of Our Lady before Týn (Chrám Matky Boží před Týnem) from the 14th century among other magnificent buildings.

Past the lowered curb at the corner Old Town Astronomical Clock (Staroměstský orloj), we reach a wide sidewalk with cobblestone tiles in front of Old Town Hall (Staroměstská radnice). The building is only partially accessible by its side entrance with +1 step.

Using the archway of the adjacent U Minuty House, covered with sgraffi to decorations, we can make a pleasant detour to Malé náměstí Square.

Continuing past Franz Kafka’s birth house on Franz Kafka Square (náměstí Franze Kafky) and the Baroque St. Nicholas Cathedral (Chrám sv. Mikuláše) by the great architect K.I. Dientzenhofer, we return to Old Town Square.

→ Židovské Město (Jewish Town) → Haštalská čtvrť (Haštal Quarter) → Dlouhá třída → náměstí Republiky Square x|

Through Pařížská Street, an example of the new development that replaced the razed Jewish ghetto structures at the end of the 19th century, we will enter the former Jewish quarter. The Old Jewish Cemetery (Starý židovský hřbitov) and other well preserved historical buildings to the left of Pařížská are, however, hard to access. We therefore continue by turning right and over a modified crossing to Široká Street. Its left-hand side sidewalk will lead us to the partially accessible Spanish Synagogue (Španělská synagoga) that houses an exhibition following the fate of the Jewish community in Prague.
The Spanish Synagogue was built in 1868 on the site of the oldest Jewish prayer house in Prague, called the Old School, in the Moorish style. Between 1836–1845 František Škroup, the composer of the Czech national anthem, worked at the Old School as an organist.

The walk then continues via the left-hand side cobblestone sidewalk to Vězeňská Street, leading us to a small square with several benches. All sidewalks surrounding the area have lowered curbs, but expect a rough historical pavement. Via Haštalská Street we reach Haštalské Square, the heart of a quiet yet charming neighborhood with restaurants and cafés.

Another detour from the route is to Anežská Street, where at its turn the entrance to Convent of St. Agnes of Bohemia (Anežský klášter) is located. Access to this remarkable complex is more diffi cult, especially behind the Church of St. Haštal where the sidewalk ends and it is necessary to continue via the lowered curb onto the road. Anežská Street has a very rough historical pavement and a longitudinal slope. Car traffic in this section is minimal.

The extensive complex of the St. Agnes Convent houses a permanent exhibition of medieval art and a pleasant retreat in the convent garden.

We will return the same way back to Haštalské Square and continue via the right-hand side sidewalk of Rámová Street to Dlouhá Street. Dlouhá street will lead us first via the left-hand side sidewalk and from the intersection with Rybná Street via the right-hand sidewalk to Revoluční Street and further to the starting point of the whole route, to náměstí Republiky Square, with partially accessible tram stops and an inaccessible metro station of the same name.

 

Recommended Landmarks on the Route

Municipal House (Obecní dům)
náměstí Republiky 1090/5, Praha 1, www.obecnidum.cz

• access via the main entrance (double-leaf door: width 2x90 cm) over a mobile ramp (slope 14%, width 150 cm, length 100 cm)
• interior manoeuvring space is sufficient
• passages minimum width of 70 cm
• two functional historical lifts (manually opening outswing double-leaf shaft doors width 113 cm; cage inswing door width 100 cm; cage: width 170 cm, depth 163 cm)
• partially accessible toilet on the ground floor (door width 80 cm, cabin width 225 cm, depth 140 cm)
• accessible toilet on the first floor (door width 80 cm; cabin: width 160 cm, depth 172 cm)

House at the Black Madonna (Dům U Černé Matky Boží)
Ovocný trh 569/19, Praha 1, www.upm.cz

• access via the main entrance (double-leaf door, passage width 136 cm)
• interior manoeuvring space is sufficient
• passages minimum width of 70 cm
• a lift (automatically opening door width 80 cm; cage: width 132 cm, depth 136 cm) connecting the ground floor with up to the 4th floor
• accessible toilet on the 2nd and 3rd floors (door width 90 cm; cabin: width 170 cm, depth 197 cm)

Old Town Hall (Staroměstská radnice)
Staroměstské náměstí 1/3, Praha 1, www.prague.eu/staromestskaradnice

• access via the side entrance (double-leaf door width 2x100 cm) and over +1 step (height 14 cm); portable ramp is available
• interior manoeuvring space is sufficient
• passages minimum width of 70 cm
• access only into a part of the property
• two lifts (automatically opening doors width 100 cm; cage: width 151 cm, depth 90 cm) connecting the ground floor with up to the 4th floor
• an inclined platform lift (transport area: width 77 cm, depth 85 cm; load capacity 200 kg) interconnecting the main building with a tower
• circular lift in the tower (automatically opening door width 106 cm; cage width / diameter 117 cm)
• partially accessible toilet on the third floor (width 80 cm, cabin: width 140 cm, depth 177 cm

Spanish Synagogue (Španělská synagoga)
Vězeňská 141/1, Praha 1, www.jewishmuseum.cz

• access via the main entrance (double-leaf door width 2 x 87 cm)
• interior manoeuvring space is sufficient
• passages minimum width of 80 cm
• a vertical hoist (load capacity 400 kg; mechanical door width 81 cm; hoist platform width 95 cm, depth 135 cm) connecting the lower ground floor (synagogue), ground floor (entrance and cash desk), 1st floor (gallery)
• partially accessible toilet on the lower ground floor (width 80 cm; cabin: width 180 cm, depth 142 cm)

Convent of St. Agnes of Bohemia (Klášter sv. Anežky České)
U Milosrdných 814/17, Praha 1, www.ngprague.cz

• access via the side entrance (single-leaf door width 103 cm) with +1 step (height 3 cm)
• interior manoeuvring space is sufficient
• passages minimum width of 70 cm
• access only to parts of the property
• a lift (automatically opening door width 80 cm; cage: width 100 cm, depth 129 cm) connecting the basement, the ground floor, and the 1st floor
• vertical platform lift (platform area width 117 cm, depth 140 cm, load capacity not included) in the exposition on the 1st floor
• accessible toilet in the basement (door width 80 cm; cabin: width 206 cm, depth 177 cm)

TOILETS

Public Toilet: Myslbek Palace

• located on the 1st floor of a mixed-use shopping/office complex
• access via the main entrance (double-leaf door width 163 cm)
• interior manoeuvring space is sufficient
• a lift (automatically opening door width 80 cm; cage: width 110 cm, depth 210 cm) connecting the ground floor and 1st floor
• accessible toilet (door width 85 cm; cabin: width 290 cm, depth 210 cm)
• space next to the toilet bowl is sufficient (width 165 cm)
• the toilet is equipped with two folding handles

 

Public Toilet: Templová

• located on the ground floor of a residential building Templová 3/769
• access road from the street Celetná leads through a passage with rough historical tiles
• access via the main entrance (single-leaf doors width 81 cm)
• interior manoeuvring space is sufficient
• hallway (width 214 cm, depth 231 cm)
• partially accessible toilet (door width 80 cm; cabin: width 220 cm, depth 288 cm)
• narrow space next to toilet bowl (width 75 cm)
• the toilet is equipped with two folding handles
• baby changing station available

Detailed descriptions of the accessibility of the recommended and other sites on the route can be found at pragueaccessibilitymap.eu.