Karlova Street (Prague)

Karlova is a street in the Old Town of Prague. It links Křižovnické Square by Charles Bridge with Malé náměstí.^[1] It runs along the Clementinum and the Italian Chapel, crosses Husova Street and after two bends ends at Malé náměstí.^[2] It is part of the Royal Route.^[1]*

History and names

From the 12th century it was one of the main thoroughfares of the city. After Judith Bridge was built around 1158 it became the link between Old Town Square and Prague Castle.^[1] The oldest name, Svatoklimentská, refers to the Church of St Clement at the monastery of the Dominicans, who were based here from 1232 to 1556. In the 14th century parts of the street were called Zlatnická (Goldsmiths'), Nožířská (Cutlers') or Ševcovská (Shoemakers'). At the turn of the 16th and 17th centuries the names were unified as Jezuitská.^[1] The name Karlova has been in use since 1848, after Charles IV, at the suggestion of Karel Havlíček Borovský.^[1]

Buildings

From Křižovnické Square the street is lined by the Church of St Saviour, the Italian Chapel of the Assumption from 1590–1600 and the Church of St Clement from 1711–1715 with sculptures from the workshop of Matthias Bernhard Braun.^[1] The house At the Golden Well, No. 175, has stucco decoration by Jan Oldřich Mayer from the early 18th century with statues of St Wenceslas, St John of Nepomuk, St Sebastian, St Roch and Jesuit saints.^[2][1] The house At the Golden Snake, No. 181, probably housed the first café in Prague in 1714. In the house At the Blue Pike, No. 180, Viktor Ponrepo opened the first permanent cinema, whose first screening took place on 15 September 1907.^[2] The corner Mansfeld House, No. 147, is one of the oldest houses in the Old Town.^[1]

Sources

1. Městská část Praha 1
2. Magistrát hl. m. Prahy (Praha virtuální)