How a medieval marketplace transformed into the heart of the Holy Roman Empire

Countries & Cities · Published 29 September 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: The Old Town of Prague began as a humble 9th-century trading hub on the banks of the Vltava. Through strategic trade and royal favor, it evolved into a fortified medieval powerhouse, eventually becoming the prestigious residence of the Holy Roman Emperor and a center of European intellectual and religious life.

The origins of the Old Town, or Staré Město, trace back to the 9th century, when settlements clustered around a spacious marketplace near the Vltava river. By 1100 AD, this site hosted weekly Saturday markets and military gatherings. As trade flourished, local merchants grew wealthy, eventually securing township privileges from King Wenceslaus I of Bohemia. To protect this prosperity, the city was enclosed by a wall and a semi-circular moat, featuring approximately 13 gates.

The city's status shifted dramatically in the 14th century. In 1338, King John of Luxembourg permitted councilors to establish the Old Town Hall in a former patrician house. The town’s prominence surged after 1355, when King Charles IV became the Roman Emperor. As the residence of the Empire's leader, Prague drew the attention of all medieval Europe. To reflect this newfound power, the town hall was expanded with a massive stone tower, which stood as the city's highest point upon its completion in 1364.

Charles IV further cemented the city's importance by founding the University of Prague in 1348, with its main seat, the Carolinum, located in the Old Town. In 1357, he initiated the construction of a bridge connecting the Old Town to the Lesser Town. The area also became a crucible for religious change; the Bethlehem Chapel, built in 1391, served as a base for the Bohemian Reformation, where Jan Hus preached between 1402 and 1413. Although the original defensive moat and wall were dismantled following the 14th-century expansion of the New Town, the Old Town remained a central administrative hub until the four towns of Prague were unified in 1784.

While the city thrived, it was not immune to disaster. A massive blaze in 1689, known as the French fire, caused significant damage to the district, including the Jewish Town. Today, the boundaries of the Old Town remain marked by the streets that once covered its medieval moat, serving as a permanent reminder of the settlement's defensive past.

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