Charles Square ( Czech : Karlovo náměstí ) is a city square in the New Town of Prague , Czech Republic . At roughly 80,550 m² it is one of the largest squares in the world and was the largest town square of the medieval Europe . Founded in 1348 as the main square of the New Town by Charles IV , it was known as Dobytčí trh (Cattle Market) from the 15th century and finally named after its founder in 1848. The central portion of the square was turned into a park in the 1860s.
7-569: The square is now one of the main transport hubs of the city centre with Karlovo náměstí metro station and numerous tram lines and busy roads crossing it in all directions. Charles Square originated as a part of the New Town of Prague founded in 1348 by emperor Charles IV. With Wenceslas Square (Horse Market) and Senovážné náměstí (Hay Market) it became one of three main squares of the newly founded town. These squares were connected with one street (today streets Vodičkova and Jindřišská). Charles Square
14-550: Is 40 metres and it is 165 metres long, including service rooms. The length of the middle tunnel is the same as the length of platforms. The interior design consists of metal tubing (station tunnels leading to other stations feature concrete design). The facing consists of glass blocks, designed by František Vízner, placed over a beige colour film. Similar designs are used in other stations of the B line. The same blocks, despite their size, were in use on Jinonice station. The transfer corridor walls are faced by CONNEX glass (as in most of
21-553: The 17th century the Jesuits started to build their New Town residence on Charles Square. They also founded a new church dedicated to their patron saint and founder of the Jesuit Order, St. Ignatius of Loyola . This church was designed by Carlo Lurago and built in 1655-1677 in the early Baroque style. On the south side of the square there is a gate to the Church of St. John of Nepomuk "on
28-473: The Rock" which was built in the high Baroque style in 1730s by Kilian Ignac Dientzenhofer . 50°04′34″N 14°25′16″E / 50.076°N 14.421°E / 50.076; 14.421 Karlovo n%C3%A1m%C4%9Bst%C3%AD (Prague Metro) Karlovo náměstí ( Czech pronunciation: [ˈkarlovo ˈnaːmɲɛsciː] ) is a Prague Metro station on Line B. Its name is Czech for " Charles Square ", after
35-403: The plaza to which it is adjacent. The station has two exits, one leading to Charles Square and the other to Palacký Square (Czech: Palackého náměstí ), both of which are major tram hubs. The station was opened on 2 November 1985, as part of the inaugural section of Line B between Sokolovská and Smíchovské nádraží . Karlovo náměstí is a pylon station with 3 supports. The depth of the station
42-665: Was a very important place of pilgrimage in the late 14th and early 15th century, because the holy relics and crown jewels of the Holy Roman Empire were shown there to thousands of pilgrims . On 30 July 1419 the Hussite Wars broke out in this square, when Hussites led by priest Jan Želivský threw some Catholic councilors from windows of the New Town Hall. This event is called "the First Defenestration of Prague ". In
49-519: Was supposed to be the most important square of the New Town of Prague and probably of the whole of Prague, therefore the Town Hall of the New Town was built there. Despite these plans the most important square later became Wenceslas Square . In the late 14th century the Corpus Christi Chapel was built in the middle of the square. It was closed in 1784 and demolished a few years later. This chapel
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