Charles Square, Medieval square in New Town, Czech Republic.
The square lies in the New Town district and is divided by paths into sections with lawns, trees, and benches. Buildings from different centuries surround it, including churches, an old town hall, and apartment blocks with decorated facades.
Founded in 1348 by Charles IV as the central square of Prague's New Town, it was known as Dobytčí trh (Cattle Market) from the 15th century. The square was renamed after its founder in 1848, and its central portion was turned into a park in the 1860s.
The square's name comes from Charles IV, its founder; until 1848 it was called Dobytčí trh, the Cattle Market. The Baroque Church of St Ignatius, designed by Carlo Lurago and built 1655–1677, faces the former Jesuit college, now part of the General University Hospital. A memorial plaque on house no. 580 recalls Emiliano Kaufmann, who left his estate to a school for the deaf.
The Karlovo náměstí metro stop sits right at the edge of the park, with tram lines passing on both sides. Paved paths cross through the green areas, making it easy to walk from one end to the other.
In 1419 Hussite rebels threw Catholic councilors from the New Town Hall windows during a protest, an event known as the First Defenestration of Prague. This act sparked decades of religious conflicts that reshaped the region.
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