Mariánské náměstí

Mariánské náměstí (translated as Virgin Mary Square) is a square in Old Town, Prague 1 in the Czech Republic. It is surrounded by significant public buildings such Clementinum with National library, New City Hall with Mayor of the City of Prague residence and Prague City Council, Clam-Gallas Palace and Trauttmansdorff Palace.

1. History

The current name of the square is derived from extinct Church of the Virgin Mary Na louži, which was placed next to the current Clam-Gallas Palace. In the 20th century, the square began to be used as a large car park. In 2019, Prague City Council decided that the square would be turned into a pedestrian zone. Prague Institute of Planning and Development decided that Czech architectonic studio Xtopic would create a study about how the square should look in the future. The rebuild is expected to be completed by 2024. From European Mobility Week in September 2019, parking on the square was forbidden. Cultural events will take place on the square instead.

1. References

Nearby Places View Menu

Statue of Judah Loew ben Bezalel

The statue of Judah Loew ben Bezalel (Czech: Socha rabiho Löwa) is an outdoor sculpture by Ladislav Šaloun, installed at New City Hall in Prague, Czech Republic. A replica from 1914 by Ladislav Saloun is in the Maisel Synagogue in Prague. The replica has a plaque, which states that the statue’s theme is the Maharal’s death. His death is symbolized by the nude young girl holding out a rose “whose scent brings about his end”. There is a small dog on the statue’s other side, but no description of the meaning of the dog is given.

Art Landmark

Municipal Library of Prague

The Municipal Library of Prague (Czech: Městská knihovna v Praze) is one of the largest libraries in Prague, Czech Republic. It is an open institution that offers access to fiction and educational literature for children and adults. Its collection includes CDs with music and spoken word, DVDs with Czech and foreign films, maps, sheet music, MP3s, newspapers and magazines, prints and reproductions. It provides its readers with free access to international information databases, as well as allowing the public to use the Internet on a PC or free wi-fi connection. The service to the public is world-class. In addition to information and research services, the library organises public events, concerts, theatre and dance performances, talks with authors, fashion shows, discussions. It is one of the most important libraries in the country. The oldest item in the library's collections is a print of the Prague Bible from 1488.

Library Music

National Library of the Czech Republic

The National Library of the Czech Republic (Czech: Národní knihovna České republiky) is the central library of the Czech Republic. It is directed by the Ministry of Culture. The library's main building is located in the historical Clementinum building in the centre of Prague, where approximately half of its books are kept. The other half of the collection is stored in the district of Hostivař. The National Library is the biggest library in the Czech Republic, housing around 6 million documents. The library currently has 20 627 registered readers. Although comprising mostly Czech texts, the library also stores older material from Turkey, Iran and India. The library also houses books for Charles University in Prague.

Landmark Library

Clam-Gallas Palace

The Clam-Gallas Palace (Czech: Clam-Gallasovský palác) is a Baroque palace in Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic. The building is situated on the corner of Husova Street and Mariánské Square, in Prague's Old Town.

Historic Site Landmark