Prague - The Lesser Town
(the Lesser Quarter, Mala Strana)

The Lesser Town was founded in 1257 by King Premysl Otakar II, as the second town of Prague after the Old Town. The lesser Town is, without exaggeration, the pearl of the Baroque style. Just as the church of St Nicholas is the pride of the Lesser Town, so the Lesser Town is the pride of Prague.

Wallenstein Pallace and Gardens Wallenstein Street leads to the Lesser Town Square. Currently there are embassies and expensive residences in this street. On the left we see the Wallenstein Palace and Gardens. The Wallenstein Palace houses the Senate of the Czech Republic. This most magnificent of Prague´s noble residences and one of the first Baroque palaces in Prague, was built in 1624-1630 for Albrecht of Wallenstein. The palace is closed off from the surrounding world and concentrated around an architecturally designed garden. The most valuable structure is the Italian Sala Terrena (garden pavillion), designed in the style of the late Renaissance and dominating the palace garden. The garden is closed by the Riding-school of Wallenstein Palace, a building from 1630.	St. Nicholas Church After walking around the palaces of aristocratic families, we arrive at the original market-place of the Lesser Town, now the Lesser Town Square. The area of the square is divided into two unequal parts and the whole of the left-bank part of the historic core of Prague is dominated by a building with a characteristic dome, the symbol of Prague Baroque. St. Nicholas Church is a monumental Baroque building, standing on the site of a demolished Gothic church of the same name. It was constructed by three generations of the finest Baroque architects of Prague. The main architects were the Dientzenhofers, father and son.
Nerudova Street Nerudova Street is one of the most beautiful streets in Prague, named after the famous Czech poet and journalist, Jan Neruda, who lived in the houses called 'At the Three Black Eagles' and 'At the Two Suns' (pictured). The street was once the main road to Prague Castle. Nowadays, many of the old houses are home to coffee houses, wine bars and pubs.	The Church of Our Lady Victorious Inside the church is the Prague Child Jesus (Bambino di Praga). This little wax statue has made the Church of Our Lady Victorious world-famous. It was brought from Spain at the end of the 16th century and, in 1628, Lady Polyxena of Lobkowicz gave it to the Carmelites. The Child Jesus has many changes of costume throughout the year, donated by individuals and organizations from all over the world. It is still much revered.
Kampa Island A romantic island, Kampa is separated from the Lesser Town by the branch of the Vltava River called the Devil´s Stream (Certovka). Originally there were only gardens on the island. Today it is a cherished and elegant part of Prague with a village-like character and large public picnic lawn.